Why do the Americans celebrate St Patrick's day so much?

Question

I was skiing in Canada a couple of years ago around St Patricks day and most of the tourists were American, they were going mad on Guiness and the number of silly green hats was astonishing. When i started asking them their surnames it became apparent that they were mostly of English, italian, spanish and other european countries descent. Not Irish. so why the big knees up?
Personally i don't celebrate anything Irish after nearly being killed by an IRA bomb in Manchester (England) in 1996.

Apparently, only 10.8% of the American population are of celtic descent. Nearly 5% of these classify themselves as Scots/Irish.
A million or so Irish emigrated during the potato famine. The population of the US is nearly 300 million now. Do you think there is a desire by many Americans to falsely adopt Irish descent because it is 'fashionable' rather than their true ancestoral lineage which could be German or eastern european or other 'unfashionable' country?

To Tjnstloui and AnArdri
I understand your resentment but why don't Americans therefore celebrate a native american day because YOU stole thier land didn't you. While we're at it why don't you have a national holiday for all the Americans of African descent who were sold into slavery by, i assume, some of your other ancestors??

Answer 1

Many Americans have some kind of Irish descent.
But not all of them.
Most Americans are of German or English or any other kind of descent.
St Patrick's Day came from the Irish but Ameicans these days use it as a reason to get drunk
That's my personal opinion.

Answer 2

During the late 1840's and early 1850's a large number of Irish people left Ireland to come to the United States. Upon arrival in the United States they were met with suspicion and hostility. There were signs at places of employment reading "No Irish Need Apply," for example.

The Irish organized themselves into a voting block and influenced the politics of the cities in which they lived. One of the ways that they became a more visible presence was the St. Patrick's Day parade. Much as "Gay Pride" parades help secure the rights of homosexuals, the St Patrick's Day parade helped the Irish immigrants secure their rights. So, this is celebrated rather exuberantly in the US.

Answer 3

I am an American in NYC and St. Patricks Day has been a drunken celebration every year since I can remember. So has Cinco de Mayo and Chinese New Year. I am not Irish, Latin, or Chinese but these holidays are mine just the same. I guess Americans just like to join everyone else's party.

Answer 4

My condolences to the families of those how have been killed by the IRA; however St. Patrick's day now has little to do with Ireland, and definitely nothing to do with the politics of Ireland for most Americans. One answerer has it right, it's a day to drink green beer and eat corned beef and cabbage (which I understand isn't even Irish).

A HUGE number of Irish came to American in the 1800s, though, and many of us have that heritage in our multi-cultural make-up.

Answer 5

I think its because, contrary to popular beliefs, we embrace diversity. In America everyone is Irish for a day on St. Paddy's Day. We love the wearin of the green, the music and just like to learn about Irish culture. We are now celebrating Cinco de Mayo in May even though we are not Mexican. It is fun.

Answer 6

Well my Irish great-grandparents didn't set that bomb, instead they came over here and worked themselves to death creating a better life for their family. So did my ex husbands family, although it was before the USA was the USA, coming here about 1700. I personally don't celebrate St. Patrick's day, I carry an Irish name and so do my children and that's honor enough. In this country the Irish were discriminated against, but they worked through it. Oh, and my great-grandparents were fleeing the English, who were stealing their land and forcing them into starvation. Go figure.

Answer 7

I'm sorry about your experience, but most Irish people are certainly not like that. I'm from Ireland and some people resent "Irishness" abroad, when their connection seems to be tenuous or non-existent. I take it as a compliment. I suppose it's really just an excuse to have fun and where's the harm in that?

Answer 8

anybody can celebrate any saint's existence. Saint Patrick replaced into born approximately 385 in Scotland. His mothers and dads, Calpurnius and Conchessa, have been Catholic Romans residing in Britain in cost of the colonies. this could even make Saint Patrick an Italian. on the age of fourteen, raiders captured Patrick and took him as a slave to eire, a land of Druids and pagans. Patrick found out the Irish language and customs. on the same time as a slave, Patrick's faith in God grew and he wrote "the affection of God and his worry grew in me further and extra, as did the religion, and my soul replaced into raised, so as that, in one day, I even have stated as many as a hundred prayers and interior the evening, virtually the comparable." "I prayed interior the woods and on the mountain, even until now break of day. I felt no harm from the snow or ice or rain." while Patrick replaced into twenty, he had a dream wherein God informed him to go away eire with the help of going to the coast. He escaped and located a ship that took him back to Britain and his relatives. Later Patrick dreamed that Irish have been calling, "We beg you, holy youthful human beings, to return and walk between us as quickly as extra." Patrick studied, became a clergyman, and, later, a bishop. In 433, he went to take the Gospel to eire. Patrick preached the Gospel in the time of eire, switched over hundreds, and started out development church homes. Patrick is prevalent for utilising the shamrock (a three-leaf clover) to describe the Trinity. Patrick preached for 40 years and died on March 17, 461 at Saul, the place he had outfitted the 1st church. Patrick's ceremonial dinner day is March 17 and he's the buyer saint of eire. With love in Christ.

Answer 9

Its because so many irish live there, goes back to when they emigrated to the USA.
when I was in New York, If I didnt know I was there on st patricks day i would have thought I was in Ireland.

Answer 10

Hmmm what about the fact millions of irish people emmigrated during the famine?



All Irish people are not in the IRA either....i am from Omagh in Tyrone.....why not do a search for that..