Experts explain U.S. fascination with St. Patrick’s Day, dyeing rivers
The world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration isn’t in Ireland. It’s in the U.S.
It’s no secret that Americans have an affinity for the holiday. Many Americans — even those with no Irish descent — choose to celebrate by wearing green clothing, drinking green beer, and eating dishes like corned beef and cabbage. Some major cities, like Chicago, even dye their rivers green for the day.
The modern celebration of all things Irish is a far stretch from the holiday’s 17th century origins — a religious feast day founded by the Catholic Church in honor of the patron saint credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
Virginia Tech's Brian Britt, professor of religion and culture, shares insight on why many Americans may choose to celebrate, while Admin Husic, assistant professor of water resources engineering, details the history and science behind dyeing waterways.
Why do Americans identify with St. Patrick’s Day?
Britt: Among groups in the United States, Irish Americans in particular have histories of facing discrimination and injustice and then emerging as a group with access to all the privileges society can offer. These histories may be one reason why so many Americans like to identify with Irish Americans and celebrate St. Patrick's Day. By being Irish for a day, revelers can enjoy the pleasure of parades and parties but also identify with a story of struggle and triumph. The myth of the underdog who emerges from the trauma of the Potato Famine and British rule to make a happy new life in the United States holds appeal for many Americans, not just those of Irish descent.
In my own experience, an aunt on my father's side often told the story of anti-Irish job discrimination by quoting the insulting phrase "Irish need not apply." And my grandmother on my mother's side affirmed her Irish identity through foodways, religion, and fierce support for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, even though we lived in Nebraska, home of the Big Red. In high school I discovered the work of James Joyce and the Dublin of his writings, but when I visited Dublin as a college student in 1984, I felt more American than Irish. It was St. Patrick's Day, but the streets were quiet: nothing like the "authentic" celebration I knew back home.
How has the holiday evolved in the U.S.?
Britt: The growth of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago is fascinating, as they quickly went far beyond their origins in particular fraternal organizations and the feast of the snake-purging saint. During the 20th century "troubles" between the Irish and the British, St. Patrick's Day once again became an occasion for Americans to side with the underdog in a conflict that echoed the story of the American Revolution. The appeal of this framing can be seen today in Boston, where some celebrations of St. Patrick's Day will welcome Latin Americans targeted by anti-immigration campaigns.
What is the science behind dyeing rivers?
Husic: Dye-tracing is a common tool in engineering and science. In the Chicago River, where this tradition started, the original purpose was to detect locations where wastewater pipes were leaking and releasing sewage into the river. In my own research, we have used fluorescent dye to map the flow of water underground. The basic premise is that you inject dye into a sinkhole and observe if — and when - it comes out of the ground somewhere downstream. This dye tracing technique allows us to map the subsurface movement of water, which would otherwise not be possible. Dye tracing can improve our understanding of how harmful contaminants are transported and dispersed in the environment, which can inform their effective management and remediation.
Where does the dye end up and what impact does it have?
Husic: The dyes that are used to color rivers are nontoxic and have relatively little impact or known risk to the ecosystem. Despite the dyes meeting certain health standards and requirements, their exact composition is not known. As the dye formulation has changed over the years, so too has the persistence of the dye in the environment. In the past, rivers would stay green for up to a week, but in the present day the dyeing typically lasts less than a day. While the visual effect of river dyeing is dramatic, the dye is diluted fairly quickly by the flow of the river. The dye is vegetable-based and presumably degrades in the environment.
About Britt
Brian Britt is a professor of religion and culture at Virginia Tech and Director of the ASPECT Ph.D. program. He studies how religious traditions from the Bible and Christianity influence modern life. His most recent book is "Religion Around Walter Benjamin."
About Husic
Admin Husic is an associate professor in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research aims to understand how human and climatic forces impact water quality variation in rivers. He leverages aquatic sensing, geochemical tracing, deep learning, and explainable AI to solve vexing problems in hydrology and ensure the equitable access and security of water for all people.
Schedule an interview
To schedule an interview, contact Margaret Ashburn at mkashburn@vt.edu or 540-529-0814, or Jenny Boone at jennykb@vt.edu or 540-314-7207.
