WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 11

March 17, 2024

FROM BLUE TO GREEN AND IN BETWEEN

St. Patrick’s Day was not always associated with the color green, nor was St. Patrick Irish. St. Patrick was born Mawyn Succat. He was born a Roman as Britain was Roman at the time of his birth, although he is often referred to as Irish. After he became a priest, his name was changed to Patricius, derived from the Latin term for “father figure”.  

How St. Patrick came to be released after being enslaved and taken to Ireland is a matter of dispute, as is his role in ridding Ireland of snakes. He died on March 17, most likely in A.D. 461, although that is also a matter of dispute. The first Feast Day honoring the Patron Saint of Ireland occurred in 1631. More than 100 years later, New York City held its first parade in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, a time when blue was still featured on the Irish flag and America consisted of 13 British colonies.

Following the Irish Rebellion in 1798, the Irish began wearing green. The traditional Irish street ballad, “The Wearing of the Green” lamented the repression of supporters of the Irish Rebellion. Today, there are various versions of the ballad, along with several piano arrangements following a version for voice and piano created by Irish composer Wellington Geurnsey in 1886. And today, the New York City parade is nearly 1.5 miles long. There are also parades in many other parts of the world. It was not until the 1920’s that Ireland held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade, an event now part of a multi-day St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The festival prominently features the Irish flag with the colors green, orange, and white, along with plenty of people dressed up as leprechauns and wearing shamrocks and all things green.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Check out your local library for books on St. Patrick’s Day and expand your knowledge of Ireland and leprechauns. From old Irish fables to the history of the Patron Saint, there is plenty to explore. Did St. Patrick work on a sheep farm after he was enslaved? Where did he spend time in a monastery? Were there ever snakes in Ireland? Was there a parade in America before the first one in New York City?

---

[1] Copyright March 17, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday newsletter by Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own.