Observance of the memorial of St. Patrick has been moved to March 14th this year because March 17th falls during Holy Week when saints days are not celebrated.

Saint Patrick's Day is observed in March 17, the date of Patrick's death. This feast always falls during Lent, and is a commemoration, meaning that other, more important, feasts and fasts take liturgical precedence over this holiday. This is why in some years, the official Catholic observance of the holiday falls on a date other than March 17. Because the commemoration always falls during Lent, the liturgical color of Saint Patrick's Day is violet. However, when celebrated as a solemnity (for example, in Ireland), the liturgical color is white. Since St. Patrick is associated with Ireland, the "Emerald Isle," the color popularly associated with his holiday is green, the color we have employed for this page. However, oddly enough, at one time, blue was the color commonly associated with Saint Patrick's Day.

While Saint Patrick's Day has been celebrated since the first millennium in Ireland, it is due to the influence of Franciscan Luke Wadding in the early 17th century, that the feast is on the general calendar of the universal Church. While originally only a religious holiday, Saint Patrick's Day has developed into a popular secular holiday in many countries, including Ireland (where it is a federal holiday) and the United States which has a large Irish-American population. One popular custom is Saint Patrick's Day parades, which originated in the United States. The first known parade occurred in 1737 in Boston. Another popular custom is eating green foods (including those that have been dyed green, e.g. green beer). Another custom is wearing some item of green clothing, and pinching those that do not. Partying is also associated with Saint Patrick's Day, although the Church does not sanction parties that lead to sinful behavior.

From
ChurchYear.Net

---

This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.