| St . Patrick ’ s Day |
How St . Patrick ’ s Day is celebrated in
Ireland
Initially a religious holiday to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland , St . Patrick ’ s Day has since evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture . In fact , it has become one of the most popular days of the year to throw a party and gather with others . So how do people in Ireland — the heart of where St . Patrick ’ s Day originated — celebrate each March 17th ? Should travelers find themselves in Ireland this time of year , here ’ s what to expect in terms of St . Patrick ’ s Day commemorations .
Since St . Patrick ’ s Day is a national holiday , expect schools , banks and some businesses to be closed around the country and in portions of Northern Ireland . St . Patrick ’ s Day tourism is big business , so restaurants and pubs likely will be open and may extend their hours . According to the vacationing resource Travel Awaits , more than 100,000 travelers visit Dublin from March 14 to March 18 to partake in St . Patrick ’ s Day festivities . COVID-19 likely will impact how many visit this year .
As St . Patrick ’ s Day is a religious holiday , devout Irish Catholics will treat the day as a religious celebration and may attend mass at nearby churches . Even though St . Patrick ’ s Day falls during the solemn season of Lent , since St . Patrick ’ s Day 2022 falls on a Thursday this year , one does not need to worry about any Lenten fasting restrictions . However , abstaining from meat usually is put on pause when St . Patrick ’ s Day falls on a Lenten Friday anyway .
The biggest St . Patrick ’ s Day parade takes place in Dublin , and it ’ s full of national pride . Additional smaller parades may be held across Ireland as well .
Travelers may experience “ drowning the shamrock ” as they visit Irish pubs on St . Patrick ’ s Day . It is traditional to drop a shamrock into customers ’ drinks in the pub . As such , it is surmised that having many drinks undoubtedly means more good luck for the year ahead due to all those lucky shamrocks .
It ’ s common to come across religious rituals , pilgrimages and processions on St . Patrick ’ s Day , particularly to places associated with St . Patrick . Downpatrick in County Down is believed to be the final resting place of St . Patrick and many people visit the grave and cathedral there . Some also may want to visit St . Patrick ’ s Cathedral in Dublin .
Ireland celebrate St . Patrick ’ s Day in similar fashion as other countries , but the country offers unique takes on the festivities as well . n
Photo by Anna Church on Unsplash
74 February | March 2022 Thomasville Scene