By Ryan Agosto, Staff Writer
Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural holiday celebrated in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States. Whilst the holiday still commemorates the foremost patron saint of Ireland, consumer culture has come to encapsulate the idea, turning the day into somewhat of a spectacle for binge drinking and lovers of green. But is that such a bad thing?
Saint Patrick’s Day is an Irish religious and cultural holiday, meant to honor and celebrate the life and triumphs of Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was a Christian Bishop and Missionary whomst is accredited for bringing Christianity to Ireland–converting most of his practitioners from Paganism (Britannica).
Despite beginning as a religious feast, Saint Patrick’s Day and its celebrations began to evolve alongside Irish immigration to the United States. Irish immigrants held positions of power in the neighborhoods they moved into, resulting in a surge of Irish culture and tradition in specific areas of the United States (Britannica).
With Irish culture beginning to gain traction in densely populated areas, the political figures of Irish descent began initiating feasts and celebrations in Saint Patrick’s honor, long before they became an actual celebration (Britannica).
These smaller celebrations eventually became unified as one, all under the holiday we know today as Saint Patrick’s Day. Each year on March 17th, thousands of people dress in green and celebrate in their home or out in public. However, lately people seem more concerned about the feast itself than the man it honors, putting into question why we celebrate it.
Similar to other celebrations, Saint Patrick’s day has become a day more focused on partying and the indulgence of one’s adult freedoms. The many who wear green take to the streets to go out drinking and partying, doing everything except celebrating the man they wear green for.
Is thinking of beer better than thinking of Saint Patrick?
“While I’m not Irish myself, I still think the holiday deserves to be celebrated in some format. People tend to focus on consumerism or the idea of going out and getting drunk specifically for that holiday, and while that may not be why we celebrate it, consumerism shouldn’t be shamed for the Holiday,” Sophomore film major Gianna Ranoldo explained.
Perhaps drinking culture has more redeeming properties than just a temporary buzz.
“ Saint Patrick was a religious man who has nothing to do with bars and intoxication, but the global consumerism in his name keeps his memory alive. It gives people a reason to remember someone they would otherwise forget,” she explained.
Though consumerism seems to eclipse the purpose behind why we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, it only seems to have benefitted the holiday in the public eye.
Do celebrations have to be meaningful? Sophomore psychology major Mariam Almutairi believes that our subconscious actions can be more powerful than we think.
“The idea of going out only benefits the holiday. It might take away from why we celebrate it, but it doesn’t make it any less important.”
Almutairi continued,
“ When it comes to holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, you see everyone going out and shopping. All they do with their spare time is shop for themselves and for others, and those holidays in particular are about family and appreciating what you have. Multiple holidays throughout the year, no matter why we celebrate them, are faced by some level of consumerism, and I don’t think Saint Patricks Day should be seen as any different for it,” she explained.
Though consumer culture tends to alter the morality or idealism behind our holidays and occasions, none can deny the relevance consumerism adds to annual events. Through consumerism, our holidays remain consistent and relevant with youth culture.
As consumerism tends to take away from the life and trials of Saint Patrick, it also keeps him alive by giving people new and ever-changing reasons to celebrate him and his accomplishments. Though reasons may continuously change on why Saint Patrick’s Day should be celebrated, it seems the universal need for a good time remains just as important.
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