Reclaiming St. Patrick's Day: Lessons from a Trip to Ireland

Mar 16

By Katie Zachok

There are many holidays on our yearly calendar that aren’t celebrated for what they truly are. Thanksgiving has become the prelude to Black Friday, St. Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with boxes of chocolate and romantic dates. A feast day that is fast approaching in the Catholic calendar is the feast of Saint Patrick. For many, it is little more than a day to drink till you’re drunk, wear plastic shamrock glasses, and sport a “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” t-shirt.

Back in 2016, I took a trip to Ireland with my family and my experience of the Irish land, culture, and people helped to augment and shape my future celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day. The following are several ways in which we can reclaim the religious and cultural integrity of this Catholic feast, and bring back the true meaning of Christian celebration.

The Island of Saints and Scholars

When I visited Ireland, I had the pleasure of going to Glendalough, the monastery built by St. Kevin. The sturdy, weather-beaten round tower and the quiet graveyard below are nestled in the hills of County Wicklow. Although deserted and no longer in use, I felt so at peace and wished that I could experience a retreat there, cradled by those green hills and ancient stones. Ireland is a very old country, and its Catholic roots are deeply embedded in its history. She has long been given the title “Island of Saints and Scholars,” due to the beautiful examples of holiness and learning that she has provided to the Church.

Before anything else, St. Patrick’s Day is the feast day of a Catholic saint. Saint Patrick was born in Scotland and captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16. After working as a slave and shepherd for six years, he made his escape and entered the seminary. After being ordained a priest (and a bishop), he made the brave and difficult decision to go back to the island of his captors and preach Christ to them.

The ancient Celts were a tough people, so this was no easy job. Ireland was rife with paganism, occult forces, druids, and human sacrifice. Patrick was so open to God’s grace that he became the first of many Irish saints. He planted the faith so well, that he is known today as the “Apostle of Ireland.” You can find out more about him here.

God wants us to honor His holy ones, who are reflections of His glory. Would it not be in keeping with that Irish Catholic spirit of deep piety to praise God for raising up a saint as tenacious and spirited as Patrick? If you have Irish Catholic roots, you have this man to thank for starting your family on the path to God.

Go to Mass at some point today. Offer it in thanksgiving for all the blessings that God passed through St. Patrick’s hands.
Talk about St. Patrick’s life with family and friends, and teach your children about him.
Set up a home altar display in his honor.
Learn about other Irish saints who followed in his footsteps.
Pray to St. Patrick! We can pay him no greater reverence than to ask for his help on the road to heaven. It’s a safe bet to say that he is ready and waiting to lend a helping hand.

The Community

The Irish people largely live up to their stereotype of being warm and friendly. I will never forget the countless individuals who brightened our path––from a cheerful and talkative Dublin cab driver, to our tour guide, Frank––their willingness to teach and share their heritage was so joyful. The Irish are immensely proud of who they are and where they come from, and they have a passion for educating others on their history and traditions.

Like any country, Ireland has its share of troubles and villains, but its people give it a vibrant and beating heart. The country’s history of crushing poverty has imbued them with a deep appreciation for the simple things in life. They are a people who feel emotional highs and lows very poignantly––no one is quicker to anger, quicker to cry, or quicker to laugh than an Irishman. And boy, do they love a good celebration! There is even such a thing as an “Irish wake,” in which the grieving family celebrates the life of their deceased loved one with a huge party, complete with jokes, tears, laughter, and song! If that isn’t a picture of Christian joy, I don’t know what is!

Gather with family and friends today. Forego the formalities and leave the invitation open to anyone who’d like to drop by for some craic (pronounced “crack”––the Irish term for fun and good conversation)
Call up a friend just for the fun of it and catch up on each other’s news.
Take the chance to research your Irish heritage! Perhaps start an online family tree, or ask a relative about your family’s history.
If you have an Irish first, middle, or last name, go look up the meaning! Names can hold deep symbolism, so see if you connect with yours in a new way!

The Food & Drink

The Irish eat hearty and drink merrily. They love a good meal, not just for the taste, but for the experience of community that often goes with it. On the last night of our tour, I was pulled into a dance demonstration after our meal and, while my dancing left much to be desired, the freedom that came from loosening up among friends over good food and conversation left me wanting more.

Pub culture in Ireland is vastly different from the American bar scene. While there are the usual handful of establishments catered to young adults, Irish pubs are mainly a family affair. The kids could be having fish and chips with their parents, while young men are watching the latest football match with a pint of Guinness in hand, and all the time a band is striking up a jig in the back corner.

Pubs, food, and drink are the things that bring Irish communities together. The American celebration of St. Patrick’s Day could use a serious dose of these practices to heal the damage caused by the drunken revelry and cheap leprechaun costumes that normally accompany this holiday. The Irish may have a reputation for living on the tipsy side, but most of them know how to treat themselves to a drink and keep their self-respect intact.

Celebrating a feast day should not involve drinking to excess, but there’s no reason why we can’t enjoy a beer or a glass of whiskey within proper limits. As G.K. Chesterton famously stated, “The pint, the pipe, and the cross all fit together.”

Cook an Irish recipe you’ve never tried before. No worries if it doesn’t turn out well—corned beef is always an excellent fallback!
Visit an Irish pub or local distillery with some friends and be adventurous in trying new flavors and tastes.
Recite an old Irish toast as you drink with family and friends. Slainte!

The Arts

The Irish are a deeply creative people, and their hearts are captured by the beauty and poignancy of life. Literature, poetry, art, dance, and music are all national pastimes. They are also a people who love stories, and their delight is to pass them down to future generations. It is not for nothing that they are said to have the “Gift of Gab.” From kissing the Blarney Stone to laying my eyes on the Book of Kells, from listening to their lyrical ballads to their pub songs to the heartbeat of Irish dance, Ireland is a cup that runneth over with art forms.

Art is fueled by life, and this country’s rich history and traditions provide so much material to feed the fire of national pride. Catholic symbolism is intertwined in every Celtic cross, in every Trinity Knot and shamrock, and in every Illuminated Manuscript. Ireland’s songs and poems are by turns sad and mysterious, then joyful and playful. There is a treasure-trove of possibilities when it comes to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Start picking up some of these gems and looking at them more closely.

Have an old-fashioned Irish sing-a-long! There’s nothing like belting out Molly Malone with a bunch of friends, beer in hand!
Host an open-mic night and take turns telling Irish jokes or reciting poetry!
Wear a Celtic cross or Claddagh ring today to show some Irish Catholic spirit.
If you are so inclined, make a resolution to learn how to play an Irish instrument, or sign up for an adult Irish dance class!

Saint Patrick doesn’t have to remain a footnote on his own feast day. Let’s reclaim it for him and praise God for his life and work, while celebrating the people and the culture he rescued from sinking into that lovely Irish Sea. This St. Patrick’s Day, my wish for all of you is the old Irish toast: