I had never understood why on St. Patrick's Day people pinched those who weren't wearing green. Perhaps because I am an immigrant, I couldn't wrap my mind around the idea of what St. Patrick's Day is.
Yesterday, after being chastised for not wearing green, I decided to find out what this St. Patrick's Day thing was all about.
According to the History Channel, St. Patrick's Day started after the death of a prominent Irish saint's death in the 1700s. People everywhere began to celebrate with a feast, commemorating this brave man who drove snakes out of Ireland. Since the first St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City in 1766, Irish immigrants and their descendants have been celebrating St. Patrick's life through cooking certain foods, attending parades, and most importantly wearing green.
Green is a symbol of the lush landscape in Ireland, the shamrock, etc. These are all things which imbue members of the Irish community with pride in their heritage. Unfortunately, those of us who don't know might just have to learn the hard way.
Below is a St. Patrick's Day quiz provided by the History Channel. Enjoy!
*Pictures from the Associated Press.
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