By Versailles Dalessio, Staff Writer
As many of us know, St. Patrick’s Day is an event celebrated by millions of Americans all across the U.S. According to CNN, approximately 149 million Americans celebrated it in 2018 alone, which is not far from half of the U.S. population. Many Americans love taking part in these festivities and spending time with family and friends during this exciting holiday.
But exactly how many Americans who participate are of Irish descent?
As of 2016 (which is the latest year data was recorded by CNN), about 32.3 million people who celebrated St. Patty’s Day in the U.S. were of Irish ancestry. Whether we are part Irish or not, I think many of us can agree that we like partaking in this holiday and would enjoy the time off of work and school if permitted.
I definitely feel like there are enough legitimate reasons to declare St. Patrick’s Day an official federal holiday.
Globally, more than 70 million people of Irish descent celebrate the widely accepted holiday, which recognizes the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and embraces Irish culture. In the Irish community, this is notably the most important day of the year.
Additionally, there are many popular Irish traditions practiced all over the country, including the local St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is one of the biggest events on the Outer Banks. Featuring a number of local businesses and organizations, colorful floats and candy, this event has raised much publicity over the last 30 years it’s been hosted.
Furthermore, there are many more traditions out there that we might not be aware of, but could learn more about with a day off. For example, in Ireland, there is the Holy Day of Obligation, in which families attend church and, afterwards, sit down to a large roast dinner. Another, known as the “Blessing of the Shamrock,” consists of people wearing shamrocks on their right breast and getting them blessed by local priests or bishops.
Above all, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a public holiday in Ireland, along with the Caribbean island of Montserrat and part of Massachusetts, so what’s the harm in making it one everywhere? It’s only one day of the year. We should be able to close schools and businesses so that people can have a day to relax and celebrate with those they love.
What’s your favorite St. Patrick’s Day tradition? Share in the social media post or in the comments below!
Sophomore Versailles Dalessio can be reached @22dalessiove31@daretolearn.org.
