its a strange combination of celebration and religious holiday patrick griffin a professor of history at the university of notre dame in south bend ind said photos the day was a time for them to claim their place in the united states which was hostile toward their arrival the holiday was surprisingly similar when itbegan with irish catholics in the early 17th century but with a heavier dose of religion the tradition began in new york city in 1762 when irish soldiers serving in the british army would march to try to recruit the irish immigrants living in new york to join them the irish have secured their place in america griffin said st patricks day doesnt have the same assertive edge it had in the past but there are still hints of the religious tradition such as the annual parade in new york city walking down any major city street this sunday you will find irish sporting their green clothes right next to the hispanics the feast included irish bacon and cabbage and one particular ritual was dropping a shamrock in a glass of whiskey and drinking it march 15 2013151 when people think of st patricks day celebrations they think corned beef and cabbage with green beer to wash it down st patricks day is now an american celebration griffin said st patricks day was an irish celebration that included church in the morning and drinking dancing and a great feast in the afternoon the first st patricks day parade was in boston in 1737 the hostility fell away and they became americans not immigrants the parade has the trappings of a catholic celebration as it travels down the citys fifth avenue passing right by st patricks cathedral that holds a public mass this is a nod to back in the day when this was a much more catholic celebration griffin said theyre completely comfortable here in their place one part of the holiday that has dissipated is the religious undertone which griffin attributed to the waning influence of the roman catholic church best 15 ways to celebrate st paddys day irish immigrants brought the holiday to the united states as early as 1737 today people of all backgrounds celebrate st patricks day in the united states its a diasporic holiday st patricks day began to change when immigrants became a part of society