Every year on March 17, people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, green clothing, and festive foods like corned beef and cabbage. But amid the celebrations, there’s always a debate about the correct way to abbreviate the holiday’s name. Should it be St. Patty’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day? Let’s settle this once and for all.
Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Before diving into the abbreviation debate, it’s important to understand why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the first place.
According to Britannica.com, St. Patrick was originally from Roman Britain. At just 16 years old, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. He later escaped, but instead of staying away, he returned to Ireland as a missionary, spreading Christianity among the Irish people.
His efforts led to the construction of churches, schools, and monasteries throughout Ireland, and he eventually became known as the patron saint of Ireland. He passed away on March 17, which is why the holiday is observed on this date each year.
Interestingly, it was Irish immigrants in the United States who helped transform St. Patrick’s Day into the huge celebration it is today. Over time, traditions like parades, green beer, and wearing festive clothing became a major part of the holiday.
Is It St. Patty’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day?
The widespread popularity of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States has contributed to confusion over how to abbreviate it.
Many people incorrectly write “St. Patty’s Day,” assuming it’s a logical shortening of Patrick. However, this is actually wrong.
According to RealSimple.com, the correct abbreviation is “St. Paddy’s Day”, and here’s why:
- Patrick is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Pádraig.
- The Gaelic spelling (Pádraig) includes a “d,” not a “t.”
- Therefore, the proper shortened version is Paddy, not Patty.
In fact, language experts even suggest that if you want, you can drop “Saint” entirely and simply call it “Paddy’s Day”, which is commonly done in Ireland.
Why Some People Avoid “Paddy” Too
While Paddy is the correct way to abbreviate St. Patrick’s Day, some people argue that it’s better to avoid any abbreviations altogether.
According to Splinter.com, the term Paddy has been used in negative historical contexts, especially in the United States.
One of the most debated topics is the origin of the term “paddy wagon.” There are two main theories about where the term comes from:
- It may have originated from Irish-American police officers who worked in the U.S. and were responsible for rounding up criminals.
- Others believe Paddy was a slur used against Irish immigrants, who were often arrested for rebelling against poor living conditions in the U.S.
Because of these historical associations, some people prefer to avoid using “Paddy” at all when referring to St. Patrick’s Day.