Royal Purple

Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: St Patrick's Day

Media Credit: Seth Anderson

Many people will be raising a pint of green beer in celebration of all things Irish this St. Patrick's Day, but a majority of them will not truly know what their festive attire of green and shamrocks means.

Before taking the first sip of the famous drink, divulge into some history about the real St. Patrick and why true Irishmen celebrate.

As a patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures, according to www.history.com. His past, however, remains somewhat of a mystery.

Over the years there have been numerous stories about the saint, yet many believe the famous accounts are the product of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

One thing is certain, St. Patrick died on March 17, around 460 A.D. He was taken prisoner at the age of 16 by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. During six years of captivity, St. Patrick became a devout Christian, turning to religion for support, before escaping his imprisonment. He later went on to teach others about his religion.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is not only celebrated by the Irish, but people of all backgrounds. Modern-day Ireland traditionally celebrates the day as a religious occasion. Before asking where the green beer comes in, though, realize beginning in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world, according to www.history.com.

Over time, the celebration caught on. Each year, people in Chicago celebrate the holiday by dying the Chicago River green.

The tradition started in 1962 when the city released 100 pounds of green dye into the river, keeping the river green for a week. In order to protect the environment though, the city now dumps 40 pounds of dye in the river, keeping it green for several hours.

The jovial green theme doesn't stop there, though. Each year people display a variety of the famous four-leaf clovers on themselves and clothing. The famous little leaf, known as a shamrock, is a sacred plant in Ireland, symbolizing the rebirth of spring. True Irishmen wear the symbol to show their pride in their heritage.

St. Patrick used the shamrock to symbolize a triad, and convince people to believe in the Holy Trinity. Since then, the shamrock has simply become the symbol of Irish nationalism.

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