St. Patrick's Day

Beginning in the mid-1800s, Irish Hoosiers around the state gathered each March 17th to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This holiday celebrates St. Patrick, a saint who served as a missionary in Ireland in the fifth century. The Catholic Church credits Patrick with bringing Christianity to Ireland. The Catholic faith became an important part of Irish identity over the years. As the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick came to symbolize both Catholicism and Irish patriotism.

Indiana’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration took place in Indianapolis. The Ancient Order of the Hibernians (AOH) and an independent Irish military group called the Emmett Guards organized the day’s activities. After celebrating mass, Irish societies gathered at the Masonic Hall on the corner of Washington Street and Capitol Avenue. Social, political, and charitable groups like St. Patrick’s Temperance Society and the United Irish Benevolent Association joined the AOH and Emmett Guards in procession. Bands played Irish tunes and Irish and non-Irish spectators cheered as the parade made its way around the city center.

After the parade, guests attended a banquet at the Masonic Hall. People ate and drank while politicians, military leaders, and Catholic clergymen delivered speeches. The hall was decorated with Irish and American flags. Likewise, the speeches celebrated the Irish and American identities of the majority immigrant audience. Speakers remembered Ireland with pride and called for the country to be free of English rule. The speakers also blessed America as their new home and encouraged the audience to embrace their opportunities and responsibilities as American citizens. The evening ended with music and dancing. The holiday activities allowed the Irish community in Indianapolis to honor the life of a beloved saint and celebrate their identity as Irish Americans.

Indianapolis continues to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the present. Today, the popular holiday holds more cultural than religious significance and is celebrated by Irish and non-Irish people alike.