The one and only international Saint

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17
Mar

Paddy’s Day 2019

St Patrick manages to unite millions of people all over the world for celebrations. Even those who hardly have any faith in him, put their effort and time into the event. People celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking Guinness or any type of booze available.

 

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins with wife Sabina at St Patrick's Day in Dublin city centre. Credit: Stephen Collins/The Irish Mirror
President of Ireland Michael D Higgins with wife Sabina at St Patrick's Day in Dublin city centre. Credit: Stephen Collins/The Irish Mirror

 

It has been a public holiday in Ireland since 1903 when the first parade was held in Waterford that year.

 

The Customs House, on the River Liffey, lit up for St Patrick's Day. Credit: The Irish Central/ St Patrick's Day Festival
The Customs House, on the River Liffey, lit up for St Patrick's Day. Credit: The Irish Central/ St Patrick's Day Festival

 

While the festivities start on 16th March in London, the parade culminates in a performance on Sunday.

 

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the English market in Cork during their State Visit to Ireland (2011). Credit: Maxwell's Dublin - Irish Government Pool Picture
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the English market in Cork during their State Visit to Ireland (2011). Credit: Maxwell's Dublin - Irish Government Pool Picture

 

It begins in Hyde Park Corner at 12:00 and goes through Haymarket before finishing at Trafalgar Square at 18:00.

 

A marching band joins in with the St Patrick's Day Parade in central London. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
A marching band joins in with the St Patrick's Day Parade in central London. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

The procession features floats, marching bands and groups of Irish dancers. It is entirely free to attend and a ticket is not mandatory.

 

People gathered in Trafalgar Square, London for the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
People gathered in Trafalgar Square, London for the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

Later tonight, an Irish Film Festival will be held at Regent Street Cinema from 18:30. The Four Men And A Dog concert will be performed at the Irish Cultural Centre at 19:30.

 

A 16ft tall puppet of St Patrick and an Irish dancer in Trafalgar Square. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
A 16ft tall puppet of St Patrick and an Irish dancer in Trafalgar Square. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

The St Patrick’s Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the very first year the Day was publicly celebrated in Boston. 25 years later Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City during the St Patrick’s Day parade on 17th March 1762.

 

The Empire State Building in New York lit up in green. Credit: Christina McQueen
The Empire State Building in New York lit up in green. Credit: Christina McQueen

 

New York City has a large Irish community that widely celebrates the biggest Irish holiday. Back in the 18th century wearing green, speaking Irish and singing Irish songs was banned. Despite of the situation, homesick Irish patriots and military members dared to organise the St Patrick’s Day Parade.

 

St Patrick's Day parade on the 5th Avenue in New York. Credit: Gary Burke
St Patrick's Day parade on the 5th Avenue in New York. Credit: Gary Burke

 

Since then the Parade annually marches along the 5th Avenue past St Patrick’s Cathedral and turns the streets green.

 

The kids watching Marine Corps marching on St Patrick's Day Parade in New York (2019). Credit to Sgt Randall A. Clinton
The kids watching Marine Corps marching on St Patrick's Day Parade in New York. Credit to Sgt Randall A. Clinton

 

Several other St Patrick’s Day events, like stand-up comedy shows, dance parties and concerts take place in the city.

 

Green Chicago river in downtown on St Patrick's Day. Credit: Sam99929
Green Chicago river in downtown on St Patrick's Day. Credit: Sam99929

 

New Zealand is proud to offer the first St Patrick's Parade in the world in Auckland that starts at 12:00 on Queen Street (between Wakefield Street and Mayoral Drive) and lasts for about an hour.

 

The greened Sky Tower dominates the Auckland skyline on the eve of St Patrick's Day in New Zealand. Credit: The Urban List
The greened Sky Tower dominates the Auckland skyline on the eve of St Patrick's Day in New Zealand. Credit: The Urban List

 

The only parade in the Southern Hemisphere will be followed by Hugh Green Group Irish Music and Dance Festival, which will be held at 12:30-15:30 near Aotea Square, featuring Sean Kelly and The Celtic Flyers, Rough Town, the Connolly School of Irish Dance, the Doyle Academy of Irish Dance, kids’ rides, face painting and much more.

 

HMS Belfast is lit green on the River Thames. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
HMS Belfast is lit green on the River Thames. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

St Patrick remains somewhat a mystery up to these days. Some scholars insist that the man who was to become the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales in about 385 AD and his given name was Maewyn. Others believe that apostle of Ireland was born in Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in 387 AD.

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the St Patrick's Day parade at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the St Patrick's Day parade at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

Despite the place of his birth, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the United States and England far wider than in any other place.

 

London Eye lit up green for St Patrick's Day. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
London Eye lit up green for St Patrick's Day. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

The person who has later become known as St Patrick, was born in Britain to wealthy parents Calpurnius and Conchessa near the end of the fourth century. Calpurnius belonged to a Roman family of high rank and held the position of Christian deacon either in Gaul, or Britain. Conchessa was a near relative of the great patron of Gaul, St Martin of Tours.

 

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

St Patrick’s mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. Then he retired to County Down. He is believed to have died on 17th March, around 460 AD. However, the exact year he has passed away is a mystery, just like his birth date. Some sources say he died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, in 493 AD. His remains were wrapped in the shroud woven by St Brigid’s own hands. At least the exact day of his death is known and thus, 17th March is commemorated as St Patrick’s Day.

 

Selfridges in London lit up green. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Selfridges in London lit up green. Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

 

Allresipes.com presents St Patrick’s Day main dish recipes on their website: apple and brown sugar corned beef, baked corned beef and cabbage, Guinness Irish beef stew, chef John’s Irish pork stew, Irish lamb stew, sausage coddle, steak and Irish stout pie, Irish chicken and dumplings, the Humble Shepherd, Irish shepherd’s pie, Irish steaks, St Patrick’s colcannon, Irish breakfast, and Irish boiled dinner.

 

Guinness Irish beef stew. Credit: All Recipes
Guinness Irish beef stew. Credit: All Recipes

 

Here is the must-have St Patrick’s Day recipe of Irish Guinness stew, the perfect meal for a chilly night:

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed

3 cups Guinness

2 potatoes, peeled and sliced

2 potatoes, peeled and quartered

salt and ground black pepper

 

Green beer at St Patrick's Day. Credit: Jill Wellington
Green beer at St Patrick's Day. Credit: Jill Wellington

 

Preparation

Head the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent. This takes about five minutes.

Stir in the beef, beer, sliced and quartered potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and cover. Simmer for about 2 hours, until the beef is tender. Season with salt and black pepper before serving. Serve and enjoy with friends and family!

 

Green waterfall, Rhine Falls (2017)
Green waterfall, Rhine Falls

 

There are two more symbols that are strictly linked to St Patrick: the Shamrock and the Blarney Stone.

 

Shamrock (2017). Credit: KWHacbc
Shamrock. Credit: KWHacbc

 

The Irish legend claims that St Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol of the church’s Holy Trinity because of its three leaflets bound by a common stalk.

 

Blarney Castle parapet and hole to reach for the Blarney Stone. Credit: Barbara Weibel
Blarney Castle parapet and hole to reach for the Blarney Stone. Credit: Barbara Weibel

 

The Blarney Stone is said to give the gift of eloquence to all who kiss it. According to a local legend, an old woman, saved from drowning by a king of Munster, rewarded him with a spell to use the magic of the stone.

 

Blarney Castle is built upon a rock. Credit: Barbara Weibel
Blarney Castle is built upon a rock. Credit: Barbara Weibel

 

Whoever wants to try whether it works or not, has to get to the village of Blarney, which is northwest of the Irish village of Cork. There is the 90-foot-tall Blarney Castle built on a rock, above several caves in 1446. On the top story, just below the battlements on the parapet, is the famous Blarney Stone.

 

Let's don the colour green to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Credit: Dagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images
Let's don the colour green to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Credit: Dagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images