Patrick's Day

  Both a religious event and a representation of Irish identity and culture, Saint Patrick's Day has been significant in Irish history. The occasion celebrates Saint Patrick, the nation of Ireland's patron saint, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the island in the fifth century. Initially, only the Catholic Church in Ireland observed Saint Patrick's Day as a religious festival. Yet as time went on, it developed into a significant cultural event that was embraced by people from all walks of life. Saint Patrick's Day evolved into a representation of Irish identity and resistance during the time of British control in Ireland. The holiday was utilized by Irish nationalists to support the Irish independence movement and promote Irish culture. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, a nationalist group that pushed for Irish independence, hosted the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin in 1903, for instance. Saint Patrick's Day remained a representation of