Where Did They Come From?

March is the month of green, rainbows and St. Patrick's Day. This holiday is a tradition for everyone. So, wear green and don't get pinched. Along with the color green and leprechauns, this is also a great holiday to plan a party for. However, do you ever take a deeper look into the holiday, instead of just planning a party. Where do these traditions come from and where did it originate from? Wedding and Party Network is bringing you St. Patrick's Day traditions and where they originated.

The Shamrock –This became a traditional symbol for St. Patrick's Day since, as legend has it, the three-leaf clover is said to explain trinity. The three leafs of the clover represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Irish people adopted this as a St. Patrick's Day tradition and has been with them ever since.

Corned Beef & Cabbage – Eating corned beef and cabbage represents a day of exemption of the meat-free rule during lent. However, this is actually not the original feast of the Irish, their meal actually consisted of bacon and cabbage. Bacon was actually a pricier meat and considered a luxury. The idea of corned beef was obtained from Jewish immigrants and has since been the favored tradition.

Saint Patrick's Day Parade – The parade dates back to the mid 1700s when the Irish contingency would hold a march to celebrate the holiday. The first large-scale parade took place on March 17, 1762 in New York City. Now, this parade is the largest St. Patrick's day parade which attracts over 150,000 participants and over 2 million viewers.

The Color Green –One of the biggest traditions that comes along with this holiday is the color green. Where does it come from and why is it such a big staple for this holiday? The color green was actually not always the case during this holiday. However, many of the symbols have the color green, including the shamrock, leprechauns and the unofficial Irish flag. The tradition of wearing green actually just appeared within the last few decades and apparently derived from school children.

Green, shamrocks, corned beef, cabbage and pinching are all apart of Saint Patrick's Day. Don't forget to add these fun traditions to your party when celebrating this green holiday.

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