Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Religious Significance of St. Patrick's Day

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St. Pat's Parade 12

St. Patrick's Day was originally a religious observance, a saint's feast day on the Roman Catholic calendar. Then it became more political, the national day of Ireland. It crossed the Atlantic with the Irish diaspora, including my father's family. In this country, it became an occasion for enormous parades and prodigious bouts of drinking. Still, if you looked carefully, there were still signs of Christian sentiment along the parade route.

2011 St Pat's Parade 10


Today's post on Downtown St. Louis 365 discusses American currency and aphorisms.

Working Families Rally 2

7 comments:

  1. Love the pictures! Happy St. Patrick's day! Your photos are so sharp, what kind of camera do you use?

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  2. What doesn't have religious roots?

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  3. Looks like you're gearing up for St. Patty's Day. Don't recall if I've ever seen reference to christianity in our own St. Paul Parade. But, I dreamed I celebrated St. Patrick's Day in my Erin go Bragh!

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  4. I hadn't known about the religious aspect. But now that you mention it, it all makes sense with celebrating Saint Patrick.

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  5. Great images. Looks FUN!
    I don`t know if the day is celebrated over here, but will have a look....

    Gunn / Stavanger / Norway

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  6. No St Patrick's celebrations here I believe, apart from a couple of pubs where beer will be served liberally (similar beliefs ?)

    I wonder if Christian clowns are funny? For some reason I tend to think they wouldn't be...

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