As Dr Antonina Pawłowska from the Faculty of Philosophy and History at the University of Lodz explains, the answer depends on which Ireland we're talking about.
It depends on whether we're talking about Ireland or, for example, the United States. In Ireland, this holiday wasn't celebrated so lavishly in the past, as it was more of a religious holiday – the researcher explains. Only from the beginning of the 20th century did it begin to take on a national character, emphasising Irish identity. That's when more spectacular celebrations emerged – parades, cultural events, and, over time, the famous green beer.
This is an important distinction. In the popular imagination, St. Patrick's Day appears as an explosion of joy and pub celebration. However, for a long time, it was primarily a religious day, associated with the patron saint of Ireland.
A saint who became a symbol of the nation
Saint Patrick is one of Ireland's patron saints, but – as the expert underlines – he holds a special place within this group.
He is one of several patron saints of Ireland, but the most important in the pantheon of Irish saints
– says Dr Pawłowska.
Importantly, this holiday exists not only in the Catholic Church but also in the Church of Ireland, i.e., the Protestant tradition, although of course these celebrations are different in nature.
One of Ireland's most recognisable symbols: the three-leaf clover, often confused with the four-leaf clover, is also associated with Saint Patrick.
According to legend, Saint Patrick used it to explain the dogma of the Holy Trinity
– explains the historian.
The three leaves are distinct yet belong to a single plant – and this was intended to represent the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That's why the three-leaf clover became a symbol of Ireland.
It's a three-leaf clover, not a four-leaf clover. The latter should be associated with a universal symbol of happiness rather than with Irish religious and national traditions.
Irishness emphasised in emigration
The paradox of St. Patrick's Day is that it took on its most spectacular form not in Ireland itself, but in the places where the Irish emigrated. Especially after the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.
This holiday had a much greater significance in the places to which the Irish emigrated – primarily the United States but also Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
– says Dr Pawłowska.
There, St. Patrick's Day celebrated their identity, their connection to the Island and their sense of community.
This is precisely why the holiday began to develop into public rituals. It was a way of saying "we are Irish."
Those who emigrated often emphasised their identity even more strongly, because they had to protect it so as not to lose it
– notes the expert.
This is precisely why celebrations in exile were sometimes more intense, more symbolic and more spectacular than in Ireland itself.
This also explains why St. Patrick's Day was so well-received in popular culture. It combined the emotion of community with easily recognisable symbols, which capitalism exploited.
Green beer? Irish only in appearance
Green beer is one of the most widespread symbols of 17 March. The problem is that it has little to do with traditional Ireland.
Green beer comes from the United States, not Ireland
– underlines Dr Pawłowska.
It's actually a commercial element of the celebrations, an American invention referencing the distinctive colour associated with Ireland.
She adds that nowadays, green beer can also be found in Dublin, but primarily as a tourist attraction.
The Irish themselves are more likely to toast with Guinness or Irish whiskey
– she says.
This is a very interesting clue. Even a drink now almost automatically considered a part of national folklore turns out to be the product of a cultural mix in which marketing plays a major role.
Leprechaun, rainbow and a pot of gold
It is similar with another set of associations – a rainbow, a pot of gold and a short, bearded leprechaun in a green suit. Although today they seem to be an integral part of the celebrations, their source is not religion, but Celtic mythology.
This element is connected to Irish mythology and the figures of leprechauns
– explains Dr Pawłowska.
According to legend, they were supposed to guard gold and the pot was often imagined to be at the end of the rainbow. Hence the combination of rainbow, green and characteristic hats.
The expert emphasises, however, that this is a rather stereotypical image of Ireland, composed of mythology, national symbols and contemporary commercialism.
It's a very strong mix of capitalism, cultural and national archetypes, and the holiday itself, which celebrates the Irish character
– she says.
Perhaps that's why St. Patrick's Day has proven to be such a popular export. It can be easily told through colour and props. You don't need to know Irish history to wear the green hat. However, you should know that history to understand what really lies beneath the surface of this celebration.
A religious, national and cultural holiday
So, is St. Patrick's Day still a religious holiday? Yes, but not exclusively.
It used to have more religious overtones, but today it's much more strongly associated with celebrating Irish culture and identity
– concludes Dr Pawłowska.
It still functions within a religious framework, but now primarily serves as a cultural and national holiday.
In this sense, 17 March tells us something not only about Ireland. It also shows how contemporary traditions work. A religious holiday can become a symbol of national community, later a memory of emigration and ultimately a global pop culture event. Green beer, parades and leprechauns are only the most visible layer. A story about migration, the need for belonging and how nations create their symbols and then send them out into the world lie beneath them.
Today, you can wear something green, you can raise a toast, you can even get carried away by the parade. You should just remember that behind all these striking symbols lies a much more interesting story than the colour of the beer itself.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Source: Dr Antonina Pawłowska, Faculty of Philosophy and History, University of Lodz
Edit: Kacper Szczepaniak, Centre fro Brand Communications, University of Lodz
