Volume 18 , Issue 11

1937 - St. Patrick's Day In America

"The top o' the mornin' to you." 17th March is St. patrick's Day and besides the wearin' o' the green by Irish folks throughout the Nation, the popular salutation, or greeting was "the top o' the mornin' to you."

Found on Newspapers.com

There were no special events scheduled in observance of the day but everywhere people were seen wearing a dash of green, whether it was a small silken shamrock or a small strand of green ribbon, it mattered not, just so it was green. Why green?

In 1937, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 17 March, Wednesday, the Evening Report, reported that St. Patrick's Day was featured with a blanket of snow and ice, the result of the nine inch snowfall experienced over Sunday and Monday. A bright sun, riding high, however, was making great inroads into the snow blanket, but brisk winds helped to keep the temperature low enough to freeze the melted snow at night. From all appearance there were few housewives who observed the custom of planting sweet peas on St. Patrick's day, along porch borders and under window sills.

Masses were offered in Catholic churches in honor of the memory of St. Patrick, who was regarded as the Patron Saint of Ireland, born in the latter part of the fourth century. From some authorities it was learned that St. Patrick was born somewhere on the southwest coast of Britain, near the Irish Channel. Others maintain his birthplace was in the north of Britain, while still others insisted St. patrick's birthplace was on the Severn river.

His father, Calpurnius, was known as a Briton of prominence, and legend tells us that St. Patrick, when a youth of 16, was carried away into slavery by some of the Irish. After a period of six years, the story relates, St. Patrick escaped into France and finally sought refuge in the Lerins Monastery, where he remained for several years before returning to Britain. From there he went to Austissiordorum,(Austere) in Gaul, prepared to become a missionary to Ireland, and in the year 432 he was consecrated a Bishop of Ireland.

The story goes on to relate that St. patrick founded 360 churches in Ireland, and although at the conclusion of his work, Ireland was still more pagan than Christian. Yet, in the meantime, St. Patrick dealt a death blow to the religion of the Druids, by influencing strongly the Irish mind and Celtic imagination. As a result St. patrick's Day is surrounded with picturesque legends. St. patrick spent thirty years in his chosen career and legend tells us that he died at the age of 90 years, in Gaul, on March 17, 493.
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