Why is St. Patrick's Day such an important day in America, despite it being an Irish national holiday?

I read somewhere that 70% of Americans can claim Irish heritage within four or five generations.

Myself, it's one. ^_^

I suppose we all have our little things that we hold on to to attach ourselves to our hereditary past - whether it be food, or music, or holidays. I recently related St. Patrick's Day to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in a conversation.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is credited with lessening a great deal of the discrimination against Americans of African descent in America... St Patrick is credited with "driving the snakes out of Ireland" - and though, I suppose, that IS one giant discriminatory act (and a HORRIFIC loss to the tomes of history) ... it is a huge part of Irish history, and had a major effect on what the country is today.

We Americans of Irish decent may not have ever set foot there, but in a way, St. Patrick HAS contributed to our lives. Why not celebrate him?

I think it may be because so many Irish settled in the USA in the 1800's and they wanted to celebrate their heritage. It has grown over the years and it's another reason to party.

excuse to get drunk .......really thats it, ask anybody and 99% couldnt tell you anything about St. Patrick

It's an excuse to drink too much. (Not that Americans need another excuse)

The Irish that came to America, like most immigrants, held fast to thier heritage. Boston for example was a mojor destination for those emigrating from Ireland. There is a very strong irish ifluence in the area. Over time other ethnicities tend to adopt the customs of such a large group (i.e Christmas on pacific islands)

Its a memorable day to the irish and a day to party with beer and drink. And since our irish population is fine, then it's a well known holiday here at the USA.

HE SCARED ALL THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND....AIN'T THAT RIGHT????

A huge portion of the US population is of Irish heritage, either in whole or in part, especially on the East Coast, particularly in Boston and New York.

For much the same reason, St. David's Day (the Welsh equivalent) is also fairly big in the US, though not as widely celebrated.

Because there are more people in the US who claim Irish ancestry than are currently living in Ireland. Besides that, when have you ever known an Irishman who would turn down a chance to have a drink?

because americans are born alchoholics who revere every holliday that allows us to drown in booze, no mater which nation they come from, so long as its ok to get sh*t faced, were in

He's the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Irish deserve a holiday !

St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. All saints have a holiday.

St. Patrick's Day might have become popular, because it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.

It's just a good excuse to drink. Most Americans just regard it as a fun, silly holiday with no real meaning.

It is just another excuse for a bunch of idiots with no self control to go out and get drunk.

St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in Boston by George Washington's Troops who were Irish. They were mostly Protestant. When they got corned beef in the mix I couldn't tell you. They don't even know what corned beef is in Ireland.

The first President of Ireland,Eamon DeValera, was born in New York. The funding for the Land League movement for Ireland was gathered by Irish emigrants in US and elsewhere in the 1870's-1890's with Parnell's help. During the fight for Independence the Irish emigrants in America funded the war with Britain. Only recently under the Bush administration was this funding outlawed.

America only has a few holidays which they celebrate with a sit down dinner. Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter. It is not a Federal holiday as it is religious. In Massachusetts, they skirt around the issue with Evacuation Day which is officially celebrated in the Eastern portion of the state on the same day. It is the celebration of the evacuation of George Washington's Troops from Boston.

On this day, school children are reminded to wear green to school. This custom started out as a celebration and also a reminder of the Famine which singled out so many Irishmen which led to them to be scattered to North America, Australia, and England from starvation. The British who owned the land due to British laws regarding Catholics inheriting property sent the oats, grains, and other crops which didn't fail during the Famine to Britain and Europe. The Land League was formed to change the law regarding land ownership. Until Parnell, the Irish had to divide their land equally among all the children. So it was possible for a person who died to leave his children less than an acre of land a piece. The next generation, of course, would have nothing.

Okay, its really the drinking!

Because there are more Irish peoples and decendents in America than there are in Ireland.

One reason is because a huge portion of Americans are of Irish heritige. Another is the same with christmas. Just another reason to party.

well, i have irish heritage...i think a lot of americans do ^_^
and, it's not really all that important to most people, it's just an excuse to drink ;) it's a party day for most americans.

Irish Americans constitute one of the four largest ancestral groups in America.

Plus it means feeling obliged to drink alcohol ;)

It's an excuse to get drunk on a work/school night and have a parade.

I don't live in America but, I think a lot of Irish do. I wonder if anyone has ever bothered to count the number of Irish that migrated to the USA in the early thirties. I know the fights that went on during the recession had many Irish leaders and men fighting for their rights.

It's an excuse to get drunk and act like a hooligin.

Sale of alcohol plays a MAJOR roll in contributing to the economy.

I'm so wrapped up in my own personal problems that I forgot about it. I think it's a good excuse to drink green colored beer and wear green. It helps law enforcement with budget cuts so they can make up lost revenue through DUI convictions. There a little for everyone in that department,both DA and Defense attorneys, the court gets a cut,bail bondsmen gets a cut DUI's are big business cash cows for the government. I just wish some how we could get a cash cow for our budgets too.

It's an excuse to drink green beer, wear green and insult them in an Irish way.

Its like Halloween for kids.
It gives adults the opportunity to drink green beer.

Also America is founded by everyone from various countries. So we should celebrate with those that have an irish descent.

Their ancestors were a large part of settling this Country (no necessarily 'founding' it )
They have been a large part of the population here from early on.

Plus IT IS a good reason to get drunk lol.

omg, your a racists for even thinking what you are thinking...

I understand that there are 14 or 15 Americans of iish descent. So, it is probably because of those 15 Irish-Americans.

What?

Promoted by drinks companies hoping to cash in.

Green Beer!

Same reason that Cinco de Mayo is important... gives people a reason to drink!

That whats makes american people great and america is diverse and it accepts every culture equally.

It is not just an "Irish" holiday- St. Patrick is a recognized Catholic saint who just so happens to be the Patron Saint of Ireland. Because there are a lot of Catholics and Irish in the US (and because college students and other beer enthusiasts will take any excuse to drink and party!) we celebrate!

It's not.

How did this old question poped up?

Because there are more Irish Catholics in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Providence, Baltimore, and Chicago than in all of Ireland. Over 36 Million Americans are of Irish Catholic descent compared to less than four-and-a-half million citizens of the Republic. And then there are even more who are Scotch-Irish Orangemen - and the animoscity between the two continued over here ... though these days it's more "friendly."

And all real Americans love a good excuse for a rip-roaring party!

From what I recall in a college course, more than 50% of Americans claim Irish heritage. So, between that, the Catholic religion and the fact that the Irish love their beer, Americans have many reasons to celebrate the holiday.

I think its just an excuse to get drunk.

its important because people can justify having an insane hangover the next day.

The Irish came here because they had no where else to go. Back home, The English had taken our land, our language, our religion, and everything else that they could. We arrived with the clothes on our back and our Homeland in our heart. On Saint Patrick's Day, we remind ourselves of what we lost and reaffirm who we are.

its a catholic holiday as well

It depends on what you mean by 'important'. It is not as important as celebrations such as Thanksgiving when discussing what is being celebrated and also by the number of people celebrating.

It is a very 'popular' holiday, though, and this is because there were a high number of Irish immigrants who settled in America and kept the tradition. It was also celebrated by Irish soldiers that served in the British army while they were stationed in America (pre-Revolutionary War). As years passed the holiday also caught on with other non-Irish Americans and is now celebrated widely throughout the States. However, I think it is still most popular in places that have a high Irish American population.

Along with this the parades that are associated with St Patrick's day helped it gain popularity.

Also, you should note that while St Patrick's is celebrated throughout the States, it is not a national holiday.

In the course of the potato famines, the Irish were forced to leave their home island with little more than the clothes on their backs. In the places where they settled they were not always completely welcome. Due to their sheer numbers and low skills, they bid down wages faster than employment opportunities could be created. USA, being of a protestant majority, had a lot of anti-catholic sentiment. Where they did find their own niches, such as digging the canals and building the railroads, the work was often demanding, dangerous, and low-pay. Overall they were a people grateful not to have starved, but they had to stay in the low rungs of society for many decades.
They dealt with their lot by remaining a people of common heritage and common institutions. One of those institutions was the Roman Catholic Church, and its patron saint of Ireland St. Patrick. On that day they expressed their heritage by wearing the green. As they assimilated into mainstream society and became less distinguishable from everyone else, the tradition spread to the society at large.

it's a chance to get pinched

Dumb question ... There is a lot of irish heritage in the u.s ...