Saint Patrick’s Day is an official Christian feast of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church.

The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, also it celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.

How was Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from the Declaration, which was allegedly written by Patrick himself. It is believed that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. According to the Declaration, at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland. It says that he spent six years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he “found God”. The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.

México Goes Green

In Mexico, Saint Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for many years to honor the Saint Patrick’s Battalion, who fought along the Mexican army in the war between Mexico and the U.S. in 1846.

The Irishman John O’Reiley had emigrated to the United States and was part of the army, in the Battalion of Saint Patrick, a name that honored the Catholic missionary and patron saint of Ireland. This battalion was formed in its majority by Irish, besides Italians, Germans, Canadians and of other nationalities.

Because the Americans did not see well those who practiced the Christian religion, O’Reiley deserted and went with the Mexican army. The Battalion fought many battles on the Mexican side, until they were captured by the Americans. After the trial, many were hanged and others had the letter “D” (deserters) branded on their cheek with fire.

John O’Reiley died in 1860. In Mexico he was adopted as Juan Reley, and his remains are in Veracruz. In Clifden, Ireland and Mexico City, the Mexican flag is raised every September 12 to remember the battalion that opposed discrimination against Americans.

That is why for Mexicans this day is very special, and to celebrate it in the United States is to remember that racists are confronted. In many American cities, parades are held in honor of immigrants, because after all it is an imported tradition.

Celebrations

Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services and historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption.

How Mexico Celebrate

In order to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, Tourism Ireland created “Global Greening”, a celebration where dozens of countries light up their most iconic monuments with a green light in honor of Ireland. The monuments that are light are El Ángel de la Independencia, El Monumento a la Revolución, and La Diana Cazadora, among others.