Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, St. Patrick’s Day has become a celebration for all things Irish, including corned beef, beer, chrysanthemums, and shamrocks. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 34.1 million U.S. residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2012. This number was more than seven times the population of Ireland at 4.6 million people. The world’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade occurred on March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers serving in the English military. Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995, and the President issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year.

 

Erin go Bragh is the Anglicization of an Irish language phrase, Éirinn go Brách, and expresses allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as “Ireland Forever.”

 

The Blarney Stone is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, approximately 5 miles from Cork, Ireland. The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. According to legend, kissing the stone endows a person with eloquence and skill at empty flattery. The castle  attracts visitors from all over the world.

All St. Patrick’s Day greeting cards located in record series 39/2/28 at the Student Life and Culture Center.