Most people know that the St. Patrick’s Day tradition is to wear green, but some don’t necessarily know why.
Some people wear green because it is something fun and different to do.
“I do wear green for St. Patrick’s day because it’s been so incorporated into our culture that it’s expected that everyone does. I’m not Irish but I wear green for that reason. I think people wear green to symbolize the green of shamrocks which are what St. Patrick used in his teachings of the trinity,” said freshman Lucas Ryan Moody.
Wearing the color green originated from the three leaf clover. Back then, people used to only wear a clover on their clothes but then it expanded to everyone wearing green.
“I know the original Saint-Patrick was a priest who came to Ireland and converted many people to Christianity. He carried a three-leaf clover banner. This clover was probably a familiar pagan sign, but he made it so it was similar to the cross, and I guess it worked to convert people. He was sainted and we celebrate him on the 17, so it makes sense that we would wear green corresponding to the color of the clover,” said sophomore Kendall Kaufmann.
People don’t have to be religious to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Most people use the day to simply get together with friends and have a good time.
“I’m not particularly religious, and I’m supposed to be Jewish, so religion isn’t a factor in deciding whether or not to dress up. I wear it because I enjoy going all out for nearly every holiday,” said Kaufmann.
Pinching people for not wearing green has also become a tradition.
“I think people get pinched because it is probably in the tradition of the Irish to wear green. They would get upset and make a habit of pinching people if they don’t participate in the holiday,” said Kaufmann.
According to legend, wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns and being the pranksters they are, they’d take the first opportunity to pinch you if they saw you.
Most students don’t know why they dress up, they are just looking to have some fun and show spirit.
Junior Emily Rudger said, “I’ll wear green just for the fun of it, but to be honest I’m not sure where that whole tradition comes from and I think a lot more people are probably in the same boat.”
Wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day has just become so normal that most people don’t even think twice on why they are wearing green. They have become so used to it that they just do it because that’s just the way it is.
