Where did Pinching on St. Patrick’s Day Start?
Getting pinched for not donning green on the 17th of March is probably the most annoying thing for some. It also makes us wonder as to where the tradition originates from. Apart from the origin of the pinching custom, there are varied parts of the celebration that intrigue us. Here in this article, we will be discussing one of them and evaluating the origin of pinching on this special occasion.
- Who was St Patrick?
Although held with reverence mostly in Ireland and Scotland, St Patrick was born in Wales, as the legends describe it. An Irish pirate later abducted him at the tender age of 14. He was employed as a herder of pigs and sheep. He then returned to Wales with the help of some sailors.
The folktale goes on to say that St Patrick got a divine revelation asking him to become the ‘Voice of Ireland,’ which he did and is known for his divine works.
- Why is Pinching a Custom on the 17th of March, St Patrick’s Day?
This custom has its roots in the origin of St Patrick’s Day itself. It is said to revolve around the leprechauns. The legend says that donning green clothes makes someone invisible to the mischievous fairies, i.e., the leprechauns.
Following the tradition, everyone wears green costumes to make themselves invisible and not get pinched around, neither by the leprechauns nor by anyone else who themselves are wearing green.
- Why are Shamrocks so Important in the St Patrick’s Days Costumes?
A shamrock leaf consists of three leaves, each in heart shape. The number three is symbolic to Christianity and of high importance to the whole of Christendom. It symbolizes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the Holy Trinity.
The legends have it that St Patrick used the shamrock leaves in his preaching to illustrate the Holy Trinity and their interconnected nature. Hence, shamrocks continue to be used in modern times as symbolic of St Patrick’s day.
- Why do people dress in green on St Patrick ’s Day?
Although green is very symbolic of the St Patrick’s Day tradition, it is thought to have begun only in the 18th century. It was in the USA, in New York in particular, that the Irish immigrants started using the green color with the tradition.
The link can be traced back to the Irish pride that originated in the Irish rebellion of 1798—since then, wearing green color on the day shows the solidarity of the Irish pride.
Although the tradition began with the blue color, the green color’s association with the Catholic Church led it to get a strong foothold.
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