EXTRAS
CALENDAR CUSTOMS
CALENDAR CUSTOMS
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
March 17th
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created March 2020; updated March 17, 2023
March 17th
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created March 2020; updated March 17, 2023
St. Patrick's Day, Mar. 17th: Commemorates St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. It is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to March 17th.
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland in the 5th Century and is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland. March 17th is believed to be the date of his death, and is not only observed as a holy day, but a day to celebrate Ireland itself.
Addison Bown, in his "Newspaper History of Bell Island," noted that, "The St. Patrick's Night concerts, which were to be so popular an annual feature in later years, were inaugurated in St. Joseph's Hall on March 17, 1913 with 300 people present. A one-act play, The Wearin' O' the Green, was staged. Indeed, according to the article below from The Evening Telegram of March 20, 1913, p. 2, special permission was granted by the Archbishop for the event.
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland in the 5th Century and is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland. March 17th is believed to be the date of his death, and is not only observed as a holy day, but a day to celebrate Ireland itself.
Addison Bown, in his "Newspaper History of Bell Island," noted that, "The St. Patrick's Night concerts, which were to be so popular an annual feature in later years, were inaugurated in St. Joseph's Hall on March 17, 1913 with 300 people present. A one-act play, The Wearin' O' the Green, was staged. Indeed, according to the article below from The Evening Telegram of March 20, 1913, p. 2, special permission was granted by the Archbishop for the event.
Over the years, the day was celebrated by adults with concerts and dances. In 1914, the Irish play, Mavoureen, was staged at St. Joseph's Hall on St. Patrick's night in aid of the Catholic Cadet Corps. But it was not only the Roman Catholic church members who celebrated St. Patrick as the Methodist ladies held a supper and concert in Bamford Hall on that night in 1914 as well.
In 1937, the Star of the Sea Association celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a parade to St. Michael's Church. Rev. Father Bradshaw was the celebrant and Father Bartlett preached the panegyric. A dance was held in the hall at night with music being supplied by the Melodians, and a card game was also played.
In 1951, a St. Patrick's night concert was held in St. James Hall on St. Pat's Lane to a full house. It was organized by St. Anne's Sodality and the all-local talent was directed by Mrs. J.B. Murphy. It consisted of Irish songs performed mainly by solo singers, with dancing. Candy was sold during intermission. The evening closed with everyone singing "Molly Bawn," followed by the "Ode to Newfoundland." (Source: Daily News, March 21, 1951, p. 2.)
In the 1961 reporting of St. Patrick's Day activities, there was no mention of a concert. The celebration was held on Sunday, March 19th because the 17th was a work day. Cars decorated with shamrocks, harps, top hats and balloons gathered at the Knights of Columbus building on East Track and then proceeded to St. Michael's Church at the Front for the 11:00 a.m. Mass. After Mass, the motorcade drove around the main loop and back to the Diamond Club parking lot, where judges, consisting of Magistrate T.J. Wade, R.R. Costigan and Vince Barry, selected the best decorated cars. First prize went to William Kent; second prize went to William Power; and third prize went to Phil O'Keefe. (Source: Daily News, March 23, 1961, p. 8.)
As seen from the comments below from Facebook group members, the main memories from the 1950s and 60s were that:
- it was a Roman Catholic school holiday;
- people wore small corsages of shamrocks tied up in green ribbon;
- a parade was held of cars decorated with green ribbons, balloons and image of shamrocks, with a prize of
$10.00 for the best-decorated car;
- people would gather at the Diamond Club on the East Track for Irish music and dancing;
- families attended mass together, had a special family dinner, and played Irish music.
In 1937, the Star of the Sea Association celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a parade to St. Michael's Church. Rev. Father Bradshaw was the celebrant and Father Bartlett preached the panegyric. A dance was held in the hall at night with music being supplied by the Melodians, and a card game was also played.
In 1951, a St. Patrick's night concert was held in St. James Hall on St. Pat's Lane to a full house. It was organized by St. Anne's Sodality and the all-local talent was directed by Mrs. J.B. Murphy. It consisted of Irish songs performed mainly by solo singers, with dancing. Candy was sold during intermission. The evening closed with everyone singing "Molly Bawn," followed by the "Ode to Newfoundland." (Source: Daily News, March 21, 1951, p. 2.)
In the 1961 reporting of St. Patrick's Day activities, there was no mention of a concert. The celebration was held on Sunday, March 19th because the 17th was a work day. Cars decorated with shamrocks, harps, top hats and balloons gathered at the Knights of Columbus building on East Track and then proceeded to St. Michael's Church at the Front for the 11:00 a.m. Mass. After Mass, the motorcade drove around the main loop and back to the Diamond Club parking lot, where judges, consisting of Magistrate T.J. Wade, R.R. Costigan and Vince Barry, selected the best decorated cars. First prize went to William Kent; second prize went to William Power; and third prize went to Phil O'Keefe. (Source: Daily News, March 23, 1961, p. 8.)
As seen from the comments below from Facebook group members, the main memories from the 1950s and 60s were that:
- it was a Roman Catholic school holiday;
- people wore small corsages of shamrocks tied up in green ribbon;
- a parade was held of cars decorated with green ribbons, balloons and image of shamrocks, with a prize of
$10.00 for the best-decorated car;
- people would gather at the Diamond Club on the East Track for Irish music and dancing;
- families attended mass together, had a special family dinner, and played Irish music.
Some Memories of St. Patrick's Day Celebrations on Bell Island in the 1950s-60s
Gail Hussey-Weir: My memory of the day was that it was a Roman Catholic holiday, but I don't remember any events surrounding it, probably because I was not a member of that denomination.
The following are some memories from Facebook group members:
Michael Kennedy: Back in the 1940s and 50s, for Catholics, St Patrick's Day was a Holy Day of Obligation and we all attended Mass. Most people wore some green, ribbons, ties, etc., but the most Irish of all was Albert Sapp, who would have the largest bunch of real Shamrocks attached to his lapel.
Bernice Costello Henderson: I remember wearing our green ribbons on our uniforms at school and, of course, getting the day off.
Eileen (Kent) Kavanagh: Mom had a big shamrock house-plant and some people would come and get a bunch to wear to church in their coats. My sisters and I wore a bunch too. We would tie a little green ribbon around our small bunch of 3-5 shamrocks. I remember the parade too.
Eva Lemelin: Mom had a shamrock plant also. I used to bring a bunch in to Gerald Power when we worked in the Purchasing Department at DOSCO.
Isabella Ezekiel Walsh: When I was young, I remember Mom buying fresh shamrocks and putting them in our coats like a broach to celebrate Paddy's Day. And I remember they used to have a parade here, but they gave it up a long time ago. I guess things just die out.
Elaine Fillier: I remember having the fresh shamrocks in my school uniform. I am sure that on Town Square Mrs. Gosine used to make them in her little store; she used green ribbon and gathered it at the top.
Al O'Brien: I remember St. Patrick's Day. Mom would pin green ribbon on our shirt or coat. It was a Catholic holiday. Orangeman's Day was another holiday I remember. The Orangemen used to ride a big white horse on Town Square. Great times.
Terry Dyer: As a Catholic, I remember it being much like a Sunday. Mass in the morning and a big family meal afterwards. I remember having a parade (motorcade) one year in the mid to late 50s. It was in the afternoon and formed up at St. Michael's Church at the Front. Prizes were given for the best decorated cars. Lots of music at my house.
John Gauci: All I remember is wearing green ribbon and a parade. Teacher Bernie Brazil won the first prize a lot. It used to be $10.00.
Harold Hann: I remember the parades every year. There'd be hundreds of cars. All the cars would be decorated with balloons and ribbons. It was a big day; big time at the Diamond Club [on the East Track]. Lots of music on the go then. As far as I remember, the 17th of March was a school holiday; I'm not sure if the parade was held on the same day.
Terry Dyer: Now that you mention it, I remember the Diamond Club being involved in it as well. I guess the Knights of Columbus organized it.
Ita O'Brien: I remember us decorating our car for the parade. It was always so exciting.
Lillian Kent Cruickshank [Lillian's father owned the car in the left photo below]: I remember that year so well. Dad made the harp and attached it to the front of the car and added shamrocks and green ribbons. We always had fun helping him decorate.
The following are some memories from Facebook group members:
Michael Kennedy: Back in the 1940s and 50s, for Catholics, St Patrick's Day was a Holy Day of Obligation and we all attended Mass. Most people wore some green, ribbons, ties, etc., but the most Irish of all was Albert Sapp, who would have the largest bunch of real Shamrocks attached to his lapel.
Bernice Costello Henderson: I remember wearing our green ribbons on our uniforms at school and, of course, getting the day off.
Eileen (Kent) Kavanagh: Mom had a big shamrock house-plant and some people would come and get a bunch to wear to church in their coats. My sisters and I wore a bunch too. We would tie a little green ribbon around our small bunch of 3-5 shamrocks. I remember the parade too.
Eva Lemelin: Mom had a shamrock plant also. I used to bring a bunch in to Gerald Power when we worked in the Purchasing Department at DOSCO.
Isabella Ezekiel Walsh: When I was young, I remember Mom buying fresh shamrocks and putting them in our coats like a broach to celebrate Paddy's Day. And I remember they used to have a parade here, but they gave it up a long time ago. I guess things just die out.
Elaine Fillier: I remember having the fresh shamrocks in my school uniform. I am sure that on Town Square Mrs. Gosine used to make them in her little store; she used green ribbon and gathered it at the top.
Al O'Brien: I remember St. Patrick's Day. Mom would pin green ribbon on our shirt or coat. It was a Catholic holiday. Orangeman's Day was another holiday I remember. The Orangemen used to ride a big white horse on Town Square. Great times.
Terry Dyer: As a Catholic, I remember it being much like a Sunday. Mass in the morning and a big family meal afterwards. I remember having a parade (motorcade) one year in the mid to late 50s. It was in the afternoon and formed up at St. Michael's Church at the Front. Prizes were given for the best decorated cars. Lots of music at my house.
John Gauci: All I remember is wearing green ribbon and a parade. Teacher Bernie Brazil won the first prize a lot. It used to be $10.00.
Harold Hann: I remember the parades every year. There'd be hundreds of cars. All the cars would be decorated with balloons and ribbons. It was a big day; big time at the Diamond Club [on the East Track]. Lots of music on the go then. As far as I remember, the 17th of March was a school holiday; I'm not sure if the parade was held on the same day.
Terry Dyer: Now that you mention it, I remember the Diamond Club being involved in it as well. I guess the Knights of Columbus organized it.
Ita O'Brien: I remember us decorating our car for the parade. It was always so exciting.
Lillian Kent Cruickshank [Lillian's father owned the car in the left photo below]: I remember that year so well. Dad made the harp and attached it to the front of the car and added shamrocks and green ribbons. We always had fun helping him decorate.
|
|
Cars decorated for St. Patrick's Day parades in the early 1960s on Bell Island. On the left is William Kent Sr's car in 1961 or 62 (posted by his daughter, Marina Kent Coxe). The photo of the car on the right was taken in 1965 (posted by Tom Clarke).