Saint Patrick’s Day – Transcript
Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17th, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick.
Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish people. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Saint Patrick’s Day occurs during a time of year when Christians are encouraged to abstain from alcohol. However, these restrictions are lifted on Saint Patrick’s Day, which has encouraged the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.
Saint Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, especially amongst Irish diaspora. However, there has been criticism of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations for having become too commercialized and for fostering negative stereotypes of the Irish people.
