Every year on March 17, people across the US celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in fun and creative ways. St. Patrick’s Day was originally celebrated in honor of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Nowadays, some still celebrate for the same reason, but it is mostly celebrated by wearing green, having traditions, and doing Irish traditions, like making Irish cultural food and drinks.
One of the most common ways that students celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is by wearing green. Even though Saint Patrick never officially wore green, it originated from 18th-century Irish nationalist movements. Saint Patrick sometimes wore green, but was also represented wearing red or blue. Many schools encourage students to wear green by having spirit days where students should wear green and avoid the classic saying, “pinch people who are not wearing green,” that some jokingly follow. From wearing green colored clothes to putting green accessories on, students often see very much green during the day.
For some students, St. Patrick’s Day can also be a way to learn about Irish culture. Teachers might teach students about the history of the holiday or Irish Traditions. Others might watch celebrations in Ireland, where they have large parades and festivals that take place every year.
Freshman Phalene Hoppes celebrates the holiday to a certain extent. Her family decorates their windows, and they all wear green and take a photo together. Her favorite part of St. Patrick’s Day is setting up things to look like a leprechaun visited for her younger siblings. She has never been pinched for not wearing green because she wears green every year, and she also usually includes clovers. She does not think schools should do more for the holiday since she thinks it is important to have more normal school days to fit everything in the curriculum. She says it can be celebrated more personally because it is not an insanely big holiday.
Freshman Mason Velilla celebrates the holiday. He wears green at the most. His favorite part of the holiday is all of the superstitions like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. He does not remember ever being pinched for not wearing green. He does think that schools should do more for the holiday, and also thinks it should be celebrated more.
For more information, visit Wikipedia and History.com.
