This Day in US Military History: St. Patrick's Day Extra

2015-03-17T10:33:29-04:00

1762 – In New York City, the first parade honoring the Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is held by Irish soldiers serving in the British army.

Saint Patrick, who was born in the late 4th century, was one of the most successful Christian missionaries in history. Born in Britain to a Christian family of Roman citizenship, he was taken prisoner at the age of 16 by a group of Irish raiders who attacked his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland, and he spent six years in captivity before escaping back to Britain. Believing he had been called by God to Christianize Ireland, he joined the Catholic Church and studied for 15 years before being consecrated as the church’s second missionary to Ireland.
Patrick began his mission to Ireland in 432, and by his death in 460, the island was almost entirely Christian. Early Irish settlers to the American colonies, many of whom were indentured servants, brought the Irish tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s feast day to America.
The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was held not in Ireland but in New York City in 1762, and with the dramatic increase of Irish immigrants to the United States in the mid-19th century, the March 17th celebration became widespread. Today, across the United States, millions of Americans of Irish ancestry celebrate their cultural identity and history by enjoying St. Patrick’s Day parades and engaging in general revelry.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/march-17/

March 17

17 March ST. PATRICK’S DAY Irish toast: "May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread nor drink whisky, but be tormented with itching without benefit of scratching." -- Traditional St. Patrick's Day ...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 8:09 PM

2015-03-17T20:09:01-04:00

Good info, MSG Private RallyPoint Member. This video says that the Irish brought the tradition to the USA in the early 1700s, and the first-ever St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in Boston in 1737. You made me learn something with another "This day in history" post. Thanks!

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/history-st-patricks-day/story?id=29678345

The Story Behind St. Patrick's Day

How St. Patrick's Day got its start remains a surprising tale.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Mar 18 at 2015 1:13 AM

2015-03-18T01:13:59-04:00

1776 - British troops evacuate Boston ending the Siege of Boston

1780 - The Continental Army is given a day off "in solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence"