Charlotte Catholic Goes Green for Saint Patty’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day has arrived, and Charlotte Catholic families are making plans to celebrate the holiday. People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in different ways, and it is important to take a look at the history and celebrations of this holiday. 

St. Patrick is a Catholic saint known for his missionary work in Ireland. The holiday originally started as a quiet religious feast day, but it has evolved as a global celebration of St. Patrick and the Irish culture. It became an official feast day in the early 17th century. Since the holiday occurs during Lent, the Church allows Catholics to break Lenten restrictions. A common way to celebrate the holiday is by wearing green, eating corned beef, and attending massive parades. These common traditions were popularized by Irish immigrants in the United States. 

There are many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations all over Charlotte. Junior Sam Kaupp said that his family usually goes to the St. Patrick’s Day event at St. Mathews Church. The city of Charlotte also puts on a St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival every year. The parade is filled with floats, dancing, and tons of people walking through uptown. 

Credit: Google Images

In previous years, a few MACS elementary schools had floats in the parade. The elementary school students were able to ride on the float and be a part of the parade. Junior Frank O’Brien said, “I remember going to the parade and sometimes on the Saint Patrick’s Catholic School float in downtown Charlotte.” The parade leads to the Charlotte Goes Green Festival on South Tryon Street where the celebration continues. 

Each family also has individual traditions. Sam said, “My mom cooks corned beef, and as a kid I made those leprechaun traps and tried to catch one.” Frank’s Irish heritage comes from his dad. “He would always make his signature Irish Stew, which consisted of venison, carrots, potatoes, onions, and peppers. My dad would also make the shower head pour out water that had green coloring,” Frank said. 

Another popular tradition involves wearing green. Wearing green is an American tradition based on the folklore that wearing green makes a person invisible to leprechauns. 

Years of history and tradition make up the St. Patrick’s Day people know today. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the work of St. Patrick and this special Irish tradition.