Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day: When the Red Stick turns green
With more daylight available, Monday’s ride was a return to storytelling. This week I focused on the history of St. Patrick’s Day in Baton Rouge. Here’s a fun fact, Baton Rouge was actually “discovered” on March 17, 1699.
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, which is believed to be the day that the Catholic Saint died. Given that he is the patron saint of Ireland, people have been celebrating the date as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.
The twist to the story is that St. Patrick is not Irish. He was British and he was wealthy. When he was 16-years-old, he was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family estate. They took him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.
After escaping, he believed God came to him and told him to walk 200 miles to leave Ireland. When he made his way to Britain, he had a second revelation from an angel that told him to return to Ireland.
When he returned back, he began religious training and spread the gospel throughout the country.
The other big twist is that St. Patrick isn’t even a saint. He was never canonized by the Catholic Church.
The Irish in Louisiana
Irish immigrants began arriving in New Orleans in the late 1700s. The biggest influx began in 1845 when the Great Hunger started due to failed potato crops caused by a fungus. The mass migration continued for a decade and many began to settle across Louisiana in pursuit of work.
But the first known Irishman who lived in Baton Rouge was brought by way of the Spanish. In 1792, King Carlos III had the first church constructed and Father Charles Bourke was brought from Ireland to lead the congregation. Prior to his journey, he spent time studying in Spain and France so he would be able to speak the languages of those populating the city.
By the 1900s, there was a relatively well-established Irish population in Baton Rouge. Many of the Irish who moved there, however, ended up adopting French and Spanish names. Father Bourke even changed his name to Carlos. But they still maintained a connection to their Irish roots.
“St. Patrick’s Day was remembered by all sons of Erin and by many whose parents and grand parents were of Irish extraction,” reads a small note published on March 18, 1902 in The Advocate. “The wearing of the green was numerous. The Advocate’s local representation is indebted to Mr. Solon Farrnbacher for a neat boutonniere made of clover leaf with a pretty rosebud in the center.”
Those with “pure old Irish stock” would gather at the Istrouma hotel and have a feast. In 1927, when the Heidelberg Hotel was constructed, they moved the banquet there.
One of those of pure stock was Gen. John McGrath, whose name is still seen on street signs right outside the Garden District. He was a General in the Confederate army and became a newspaper publisher in his years after the war. But that’s a story for another time.
Wearing of the Green
Skipping forward to today, the modern St. Patrick’s Day celebration involves less food and more booze! The annual “Wearing of the Green” parade is held on the Saturday closest to the actual holiday. In 2022, that will happen on March 19.
RELATED: Where to celebrate the 2022 Wearin’ of the Green Parade
Today the parade is but one piece of the larger festivities. There’s also a Shamrock run and even a magazine!
But it all started with a very short walk from City Park to Zee Zee Gardens pub, which is now called the Overpass Merchant. Local celebrity Pat Shingleton pushed a stroller occupied by his then 8-month-old son, Michael, who is now an anchor at the same television station where his father worked as the chief forecaster for 45 years.
“When I started this parade in 1986 I desired to replicate the parade traditions in Ireland and Pittsburgh, PA,” reads an article he published on the WBRZ website. “Some of those traditions are mainstays, including the Mayor of the city and Bishop of the parish or county, leading the parade. There is also a Grand Marshal of Irish descent in attendance and other traditions such as pipers and shamrock painted streets. Before, during and after the parade families and friends enjoy their heritage along the parade route. Most importantly, it recognizes the patron saint of Ireland, our namesake, St. Patrick.”
This year the grand marshal is Todd Graves, founder of Raising Canes.
Next week
Join us next week for a special trip to the newest BIKE-THEMED restaurant in Baton Rouge! I say that like there's more than one. A girl can dream, can’t she.
We are going over to Spoke ‘n’ Hub. They are going to have a special menu just for us so we can sample a few different things and get it quickly! So, bring some form of payment and your appetite.
After the ride, make sure to stop inside the main building at the Electric Depot to see The Michael Foster Project perform! They’re going to be there every Monday night!