Irish Holidays: Their Meaning and Origins
Located in northwestern Europe, Ireland is a small country that has developed well-defined customs and cultures celebrated heartily during Irish Holidays.
Irish Holidays
are celebrated with food, song, dance and often alcohol. The Roman Catholic Church plays a major role in Irish social life and many Irish holidays have direct ties to the religion. Most Irish cities have Catholic cathedrals and most people there attend church on a regular basis. They also value time spent at the country's pubs where they drink beer and whiskey, and socialize to celebrate Irish holidays.
Following are a few important Irish holidays:
* New Year's Day: January 1
* St. Patrick's Day: March 17
* Good Friday: April 13
* Easter Monday: April 15
* Bank Holidays: Most bank holidays fall on Monday so organizations can have a long weekend following another major holiday. Some fall on Tuesdays too and specific dates vary from year to year.
* Halloween Weekend: Oct. 29
* Christmas Day: Dec. 25
* St. Stephen's Day: Dec. 26
St. Patrick's Day, March 17, is an Irish National Holiday. Although many Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing green and avoiding getting pinched, or by drinking green beer in their favorite bars, the holiday has a much deeper and more significant meaning in Ireland. It is among the most celebrated of Irish holidays.
St. Patrick's Day is surrounded by many myths and legends that have become intertwined throughout the ages, but its origins are deeply rooted in beliefs surrounding St. Patrick, who was born in Scotland and then kidnapped and sold as a slave in Ireland. He learned to speak fluent Irish and eventually escaped from the continent. He was ordained a deacon. He then became a priest and was so faithful in his work that he became a bishop. Pope Celestine sent him to Ireland to preach the gospel. He was known to be a great traveler and is credited with driving snakes from Ireland using his powerful faith and cunning. Myths, facts and legends are important pieces of most Irish holidays. St. Patrick is known for teaching Christianity in Ireland, for his encounter with the Druids at Tara and his abolishment of pagan rites. There are many religious successes to his credit, which foster the robust celebrations throughout the country.
On Bank Holidays in Ireland, all banks, shops and schools are closed. These usually fall on Mondays and sometimes Tuesdays; they follow other major Irish holidays in order to give people in Ireland long weekends.
