Arrowhead Transitions from St. Patrick’s Day to March Madness

Thursday the 17th was St. Patrick’s Day, but it has developed from it’s origin — this Irish holiday originated as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland and has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green.

Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century. The day honors Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, celebrating Irish heritage and culture. Celebrations usually involve public parades, festivals, and the wearing of green.

Lately it is more common for cities to dye entire rivers flowing through cities the color green, and common in America to be a popular drinking holiday.

Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. According to the Ireland Declaration — much of what was written by Patrick himself — at the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Gaelic Ireland. He spent six years there working as a shepherd and that during this time he “found God.” The Declaration says that God told Patrick to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After making his way home, Patrick went on to become a priest.

There on, Patrick, returned to Ireland and converted Ireland to Christianity. According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. Saint Patrick went on to convert thousands into Christianity. Saint Patrick’s legend even has affected some folk lore — as Ireland has never had any snakes, it is believed that Patrick drove all the snakes out.

The reason this Irish holiday is on March 17 is because it is believed that he died on March 17th and was then buried at Downpatrick. Over the following centuries, many legends developed about  Patrick and he became Ireland’s most well known saint.

But the Holiday has come a long day since then — and although some Arrowhead faculty and students remembered to dress up for the Green Holiday, it was a day entirely focused on March Madness.

The weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s day, any Arrowhead students noticed the mild construction taking place in North Campus cafeteria. A long time poster was removed, the faded wall was given a coat of fresh paint, and electrical wiring was installed for a projector.

While the intent was clear, it wasn’t until St. Patrick’s Day that the purpose of this new projector and screen was obvious.

On St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness was broadcasted on the new projector — both throughout lunch and all senior study halls. Junior study hall was even given the luxurious option of leaving the junior study hall room and going out to join the seniors to watch the game.

Despite the public broadcasting of the March Madness NCAA Tournament in the cafeteria, Arrowhead blocked the tournament on all school devices. This, however, was a futile attempt to stop students from watching the tournament while in classes, as students still risked data usage to stream the tournament.

In preparation for March Madness, all Arrowhead DECA students sold brackets for one dollar each — where students predict what teams would defeat whom and who would come out on top.

“I hope Michigan State wins,” said senior Mcclane McMullen who was following March Madness eagerly.