Today's celebrations on Saint Patrick's Day have more a touch of mardi gras than pious observances in most Irish towns. But this is a fairly recent development.
Traditional Irish Badges for Saint Patrick's Day
Apart from celebrating the saint's death with a special church service on March 17th, only two traditions were really observed in the past. These are the wearing of special badges and the "Drowning of the Shamrock".
In 1681 Thomas Dinely described Saint Patrick's Day in his "Observations on a Tour through the Kingdom of Ireland". He mentions that all Irish wear crosses fixed to their hats, made either of pins or green thread. Shamrocks were, however, only worn by the lower classes. Which also demanded a monetary reward on thus day from their landlord or master at this time. Which was immediately carried into the next town and spent on alcohol. The tradition of the crosses was later confirmed by Jonathan Swift in the early diaspora - he observed it in London in 1713.
How exactly the early crosses looked we do not know - but in the 19th century children made and wore gender-specific crosses. A colorful cross made from eight interlocking circles drawn on paper and fixed to the hat was the boys', girls made a simple wooden cross and decorated this with colorful thread and green cloth, pinning this to their dress.
This tradition died out in the 20th century. Today a simple green rosette is worn, alternatively a harp pin or a green ribbon (or all together in a daring combination). Adults seem to prefer to pin just a sprig of shamrock to their lapel or dress.
Drowning the Shamrock
The most rigorously observed tradition, however, is the "Wetting" or "Drowning" of the shamrock. Remember that Saint Patrick's Day falls smack in the middle of lent, a time of restraint and fasting. These rules did not apply on March 17th. After mass and (maybe) a pilgrimage to a holy well the men met in the local pub to empty the pota Pádraig, "Patrick's Pot", liberally filled with alcohol. A lot of Patrick's followers repeated this hallowed tradition several times until the pubs closed. For the final drink a sprig of shamrock was put into the glass, covered with whiskey and finally flung over the left shoulder for good luck.
Saint Patrick's Fish
But this celebration was not the only interruption of the lent fast. Since the late 11th century meat was eaten in honor of Patrick - a tradition that emerged from a wrong interpretation of a legend.
Apparently Saint Patrick had tucked away some roast pork for "emergencies" during lent. When he finally took the pork from hiding it was out of remorse. He had just decided to become a vegetarian and asked God for a sign. Promptly an angel appeared and relayed the message to throw the roast pork into the nearest stream. Patrick did so, the pork was transformed into fishes, swimming off lively.
Thus it came to pass that roast pork was called "Saint Patrick's Fish" in Ireland. And as fish is allowed during lent, "Saint Patrick's Fish" was certainly allowed on March 17th!
Celebrating Your Own Traditional Saint Patrick's Day
As you can see, celebrating a traditional "Paddy's Day" is not too hard - visit mass wearing a shamrock, then drown it in the pota Pádraig. Round off the day with a good meal of "Saint Patrick's Fish".
