To many, St. Patrick’s Day is a day to maybe go out to a parade or attend a fun party. The holiday is not considered to be a major holiday by any means, but many still celebrate it for the fun of it. There are many fun traditions that go along with St. Patrick’s Day, such as wearing green or pinching people who do not wear green, but not many know the true origin behind the holiday.

In a survey conducted, about 70 percent said that they have no idea what the origin of St. Patrick’s Day is, but about 30 percent said that they were aware of the origin behind the holiday.

The story starts with a man who would later become known as St. Patrick. He was born in Roman Britain and was eventually kidnapped and taken all the way to Ireland as a slave. The holiday St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the escape of St. Patrick and how he returned to Ireland to spread Christianity. 

Although the holiday is popular, not many know the true origin. “A person named Patrick was a great person, did something, became a Saint, and now we have a holiday where we pinch people,” Travis Wimberly (‘22) said.

Some students better understand the origins of the holiday. “St. Patrick was taken as a child at age 16 and then he also escaped and came back to Ireland. Then people were against him and he believed in God. Then there was a three leaf clover and he said it was the father son and holy spirit,” Isabelle Kuykendall (‘23) said. 

The true story behind St. Patrick’s Day might not be as exciting as some of the other versions that have been passed around, but it has created a holiday that has been celebrated for several years by people everywhere.