This column originated from Sol del Valle and has been translated for our English readers.
We are on the eve of the traditional celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. But what does this day mean for the local culture in Colorado, the Hispanic culture and the Irish culture? Although it might not seem like it, this holiday has roots that touch the history of all of us.
St. Patrick is much more than a holiday of beer and green salad. While it’s true that painting rivers green in cities like Chicago or enjoying the dazzling parades in New York are feats that are part of the celebration, the history behind this day goes far beyond that.
It is clear that the St. Patrick’s Day celebration has deep religious roots. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. A little over a thousand years ago, a young man named Maewyn was kidnapped at an early age and taken to Ireland. He escaped for home, but later obeyed two spiritual revelations and returned to the place where he had been held captive: Ireland.
Many stories have been told about him, like his encounter with the pagan tribes of Ireland, his imprisonment and the brutal persecutions he suffered at the hands of the inhabitants of those lands. It is also said that he drove all the snakes out of the island, forcing them to sink into the sea, which would explain the absence of snakes in Ireland. Another famous story is his confrontation with the druids (pre-Christian Celtic priests) and how, through prayer, he managed to extinguish a fire that they were guarding during a ceremony.
The truth is that the way St. Patrick evangelized was unique. He integrated local knowledge and traditions with Christianity. One example of this is the shamrock, which he used to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity:
three persons in one. The stem represented God, and the three leaves of the shamrock each represented one of the three divine beings. Likewise, the pagan sun god was incorporated into St. Patrick’s cross. Instead of suppressing traditions, he sought to integrate, unify and validate them.
The color green, which symbolizes nature, hope and renewal, is the tone that defines this holiday, brought to North America by Irish immigrants. Patrick’s Christian vision generated very solid values in Irish culture — a way of living faith through hope, hard work and a strong sense of community.
The commercial aspect of St. Patrick’s Day, with its aesthetics, beer and food, is just one facet of what represents the influence of Irish culture in this country. Many of Colorado’s residents descend from Irish pioneers, impoverished Catholics who emigrated to the United States fleeing religious persecution and post-war famine. With a remarkable work ethic, a great sense of humor and deep family bonds, they could be compared to the “Latinos of Europe,” as I once heard a professor say.
It’s incredible that the United States has over 32 million people claiming Irish heritage, more than the population of Ireland itself. It’s a community with which the state of Colorado has a historical debt, after the Ludlow Massacre, when people, many from Ireland, were killed by militia for demanding better working conditions in the mines. More children died in the massacre than men protesting.
The relationship between Ireland and Latin America is also notable. For starters, they share a very similar migration history to Hispanic culture. The only difference is the melanin in the skin. Countries like those in the Andes — Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia — helped Ireland and the United Kingdom survive hunger by sending potatoes and corn to their pantries after the world wars. Or in the Bolivarian Revolution or the Mexican-American War, in which Irish troops were sent to support the independence and American movements. The same union and independent spirit characterizes the Irish, Latino and North American cultures.
So, the next time you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let it be an opportunity to recognize our similarities, our struggles and our culture, which in the end are very similar. Let the green color of St. Patrick, his shamrocks and his food be symbols of hope, unity and mutual respect.