A history to celebrate all month long

It is fitting that March is Irish-American Heritage Month, since St. Patrick’s Day falls on the 17^th of the month.

According to www.census.gov, Irish-American Heritage Month was created originally to honor St. Patrick who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, but did not claim the month of March until 1991 (https://cutt.ly/ultXSzE).

The first St. Patrick’s parade happened on March 17, 1762, in New York City. It was to honor the Irish soldiers who fought and served in the English military, before the Revolutionary War. The parade became an annual event with even President Truman attending in 1948.

Irish-American Heritage Month is a chance for us to take a trip back in time and contemplate the Irish blood that flows through the heart of America.

The Irish population of America grew dramatically in the 19th century and early in the 20^th century, with about. 4.5 million Irish citizens arriving in America between 1820 and 1930.

In 2018, according to www.census.gov, 32 million Americans claim to have some Irish in their bloodline, although fewer than 125,000 were born in Ireland. Some modern celebrities that have Irish-Americans heritage include Conan O´Brian, Jennifer Anniston, Nicholas Sparks and President Joe Biden.

While most of the celebrations for Irish-American Heritage Month take place around St. Patrick’s Day, there are ways to celebrate throughout the month. Dining on traditional Irish food or spending the month learning about Irish dance can make the entire time a growing experience. Some might want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Emerald Isle with Irish music or a study of the country itself.

Whether you can claim an Irish ancestor or just want to spend some of your time pretending, you can always find out more about the culture at National Day Calendar (https://cutt.ly/mltN2e4) and learn the meaning behind the phrase Erin Go Bragh.