How AUP Students are Celebrating St. Paddy's
AUP students are traveling to Ireland to celebrate today's well known Irish holiday: St. Patrick's Day.
Hanna Giannini, a freshman from California is celebrating the holiday in its country of origin. “Before I came here I always wanted to go to Ireland for St. Patrick’s day, I’ve always thought it would be such a fun experience," Giannini said. Giannini shared that festivities in Ireland will likely last for the entirety of the weekend. “I feel like everyone is going to be celebrating together and having a lot of fun...just a lot of happiness and people around, but probably a lot of tourists as well," she added.
Giannini will have to hold off her celebration until the evening as the holiday aligns with one of her midterms. "I have a midterm Thursday so I’m definitely cutting it close. I’m done with class at 4:40 and my flight is at 6:10,” Giannini said. While the timing is unfortunate, it is not holding her back. “It’s definitely caused some stress since I have to pack while studying for midterms at the same time, but once I’m on the plane I’ll start celebrating," she added.
Image credit: Molly Wilhelm
AUP students are not the only students visiting the country for the holiday. “I have friends from the US who are coming to Ireland to celebrate since it aligns with their spring break," Giannini said. "Lots of Americans come because it’s during spring break."
However, a few AUP students were unaware the holiday was happening. "Is that a thing?" Tatum Staab, when asked about his plans said "I'm not doing anything". Bella Pietro, another student said "Someone I know wanted to go [to Ireland] ... but it didn’t work out."
Many others who do have plans are intending to celebrate casually. “I’m just going to a bar," says Ariana Razavi "...I’m not even going to an Irish pub," she added. “I’ll go to an Irish pub and Facetime my family in the states," Kevin Mcaleer, an Irish American, said. Taylor Abbey and Sophia Laforest, two AUP students relaxing in the AMEX, are wearing green in order to embrace the spirit of the holiday.
Image credit: Lily Pike
St. Patrick’s Day is named in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, according to Brittanica. He came to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity and is credited with driving the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea in an old Irish myth. As a tribute to the Saint, the country began celebrating on March 17th, the anniversary of his death, with Church services and feasts.
The holiday has been modified by cities in the United States where many Irish immigrants reside and celebrate their Irish heritage, according to History.com. Still, many countries around the globe celebrate the holiday in a variety of unique ways, according to Times News Magazine.
Additional reporting provided by the Spring 2022 Peacock Plume Online News Practicum Newsroom.
