The History of St. Patrick's Day

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Millions of people celebrate St. Patrick's Day every year to honor those of Irish descent and the late St. Patrick, who is accredited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Even though it is considered an Irish holiday, the people in Ireland were not the first to hold St. Patrick's Day parades or other elaborate festivities on March 17th.

The United States is famous for making St. Patrick's Day a celebratory occasion full of parades, food, and fun, and today, over 200 countries celebrate Irish people and the story of St. Patrick every March 17th. The history of St. Patrick's Day is fascinating and the love for the holiday has only grown throughout the past few decades, so come join us as we explore the complex history of this national holiday!

The Man Who Started It All

Pictured below is a stained-glass window in a Catholic church depicting the honorable St. Patrick, and his story is the foundation for the entire holiday in March.

St. Patrick was never officially made a saint, but people considered him one because he brought Christianity to Ireland and was known for being a noble person.

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St. Patrick lived in the fifth century, and he came back to Ireland after one of his dreams told him to do so.

St. Patrick was not from Ireland, but instead, he was captured from Roman Britain and enslaved in Ireland.

Upon returning after his escape, he spread the word of Christianity for three decades to the Irish and is known for using the shamrock to teach them about the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick And The Snakes

When people think of St. Patrick, they often think about him driving the snakes out of Ireland after he was bitten by one during a religious demonstration.

Even though many believe this legend, biologists have proven that it is untrue since snakes cannot be found in Ireland.

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The legend that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland has been passed down through many generations, although after some research, biologists have proven that no snakes were in Ireland at that time. To further disprove the legend, people in Ireland would obtain pet snakes as a symbol of aristocracy since snakes could not be found in the country.

Many Churches Were Dedicated To St. Patrick

There are over 70 churches named after St. Patrick across the world and pictured below is one of the many dozens that were built across multiple countries.

Seen below is the Church of St. Patrick, which is located in England, and in this country, there are five churches dedicated to this saint.

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Ever since St. Patrick walked the Earth people have been naming churches after him or building them in his honor, and this goes to show how powerful his religious influence was. Even though he was mainly a preacher in Ireland, people know and celebrate him across the world because of his religious teachings.

St. Patrick Was A Writer

St. Patrick is a revolutionary religious figure in history, although not much information is known about him and his life.

Since he lived over 1,500 years ago, so much written text has been lost, and most of what we know about him today was written over 500 years after his death.

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Thankfully, St. Patrick was a writer and historians do have two works by him that survive today.

His work is written in Latin, and the titles were

Confessions

and

Letters to the Soldiers of Coroticus

. He likely wrote more, but his works and life history have been lost to time.

St. Patrick Was Not The First Bishop In Ireland

Pictured below is a lovely church dedicated to Bishop Palladius, who is said to be the first bishop to come to Ireland to spread religion to the people.

Palladius was a dedicated bishop during the fifth century as well, and many say that he came to Ireland before the beloved St. Patrick.

Photo Courtesy: [Alan Jamieson/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Historians are still unsure as to who was the first religious figure to come to Ireland, and both are plausible stories.

In terms of Palladius, the authorities of the Roman Catholic church were the ones to send him to Ireland to convert the native people to their religion.

St. Patrick May Be More Than One Person

Some believe that the story of St. Patrick is not based on a single person, but instead on a mixture of religious figures that came to Ireland.

Over time, the stories of multiple preachers (including Palladius and St. Patrick) are said to have possibly mingled together to form one folklore.

Photo Courtesy: [Andreas F. Borchert/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Since the story has been circulating for over 1,500 years, it's not surprising that there may be some confusion as to who the real St. Patrick was.

The idea of him being multiple people is just a theory, and historians have already established that St. Patrick was indeed a real person who went to Ireland.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick

Pictured below is a piece of art created for the organization, The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which was first formed in 1771.

This organization is famous for assisting people of Irish descent who are in need and also for hosting extravagant St. Patrick's Day celebrations every March.

Photo Courtesy: [NYPL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The group is also known as The Society of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland, and over the past couple of centuries, they have been known for being a social organization.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick is additionally a charitable organization and is important to the history of this holiday.

How The Date Was Determined

March 17th is known as the day when millions of people celebrate St. Patrick, who came to Ireland to spread Christianity in the fifth century. This date was not picked at random to celebrate St. Patrick, for it is actually the day that he supposedly died in Ireland.

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Since St. Patrick lived over a thousand years ago, historians are unsure of the exact year that he died, but most believe that it was around 461 A.D. in Ireland.

Even though the year is up for debate, he is known to have died on March 17th, and therefore that is why we celebrate him every year on this day!

The Lucky Four-Leaf Clover

People automatically associate St. Patrick's day with the shamrock or clover plant, and this is because that is what St. Patrick used to describe the Holy Trinity to Irish natives.

In terms of clovers, they can be extremely lucky plants, and every 1 in 10,000 can be found with a fourth leaf.

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The four-leaf clover is the luckiest of all symbols, and if you can find one in a field of clovers, you are considered an extraordinarily lucky person.

Not only are these special clovers known for the luck that they bring, but they are also said to bring faith, love, and hope as well to the finder.

The Start Of The New York City Parade

New York was one of the first places to have an extravagant St. Patrick's Day parade, and the first holiday parade took place in 1848 on March 17th. Originally, the New York St. Patrick's Day parade was organized by multiple Irish Aid societies that were spread out across New York City.

Photo Courtesy: [NYPL/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

There were actually multiple small St. Patrick's Day parades in New York before 1848, but the Irish societies were the ones to unite the entire city in celebration.

Ever since 1848, New York has held a massive celebration in honor of St. Patrick, and pictured above is one of those parades from the 1870s.

St. Patrick's Day In America

People have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day in America for many centuries, although it only truly became a holiday after there was a massive immigration of millions of Irish people to the U.S. in the 1800s. Immigration started in the 1820s, so by the 1880s, there were millions of Irish people in America.

Photo Courtesy: [International Art Publishing Co/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

By the 1880s, St. Patrick's Day became an official U.S. holiday because of all of the Irish people that came into the country.

The United States is known for making this holiday into more than just a religious celebration, for it is also about celebrating Irish history and heritage.

There Are Multiple Names For The Holiday

St. Patrick's Day has been around for centuries, and multiple names for the holiday have been created over time. The Irish holiday that is celebrated across the world is known as St. Patrick's Day, but this is one of many names that people across the world use to address the holiday.

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St. Patrick's Day is named after St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, and he is honored with his own holiday every year.

The Irish holiday is also referred to by names such as the Day of the Festival of Patrick and the Feast of Saint Patrick.

You Have To Wear Green On This Day

Everyone knows that you must wear green on March 17th, and there are several reasons behind this ideology.

Green is the color of Ireland, and it is known to bring good luck, especially if you wear it on St. Patrick's Day.

If you don't wear this color, you will be pinched by anyone who sees you that day!

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On St. Patrick's Day, you will be pinched if you don't wear green because you are considered unlucky. Furthermore, many people believe that if you wear green on this holiday, leprechauns will not be able to see you; leprechauns will pinch anyone that they can see on March 17th.

People Did Not Always Drink To Celebrate

Pictured below is an Irish pub and during St. Patrick's Day, they will generally be packed with people who are celebrating the holiday.

Although, this has not always been the case, for drinking was once banned every March 17th, and this ban occurred for over 60 years before St. Patrick's Day was made a national holiday.

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From 1903 to 1970, almost every pub in Ireland was closed on March 17th because St. Patrick's Day was classified as a religious holiday.

After the holiday was made a national celebration, pubs were opened back up on this day and drinking spirits became an annual tradition.

It Is A National Holiday In Ireland

St. Patrick's Day has been a public holiday and celebration in Ireland since the early 20th century, and even though this was not one of the first countries to have an elaborate holiday parade,

they certainly joined in on the fun once St. Patrick Day's parties became more common.

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Even though St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, for decades Northern Ireland did not celebrate the holiday due to conflicts with Britain. Not to mention, some people in Northern Ireland felt more British than Irish or vice versa. The conflict ended around the 1990s and today both parts of Ireland rejoice in this holiday.

St. Patrick's Day Is Not Always Held On March 17th

Surprisingly enough, St. Patrick's Day was not and will not always be celebrated on March 17th, which is said to be the day that St. Patrick died.

If St. Patrick's Day is the week before Easter (Holy Week), the date of the celebration is adjusted to accommodate the religious observance.

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The date has been adjusted twice in history so far, for it was changed to April 3rd in 1940 and March 15th in 2008 so that Holy Week could be celebrated.

It is rare for the date of the holiday to clash with the date of Holy Week, but the date of the St. Patrick's Day festivities will be adjusted once again in 2160.

The Celebration In Dublin

Dublin, Ireland now has one of the most iconic St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the world, and it is usually a three-day festival that runs from March 15th to the 17th. Over one million people come to the Dublin celebration in March, and the parades and parties last for hours.

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Pictured above are some performers who were a part of the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade, and this is only one of the dozens of acts that perform during the celebration.

Along with musicians, there are also dancers and other entertainers, and you can even buy front-row seats for the parade.

The Holiday Was Once Celebrated At A Dog Show

For almost 100 years people were not permitted to drink at pubs in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, so before the 1970s, people found other ways to drink alcohol in order to celebrate.

From 1927 to 1961, the Irish went to other locations to drink because the country restricted the sales of alcohol on Holy Days.

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The most iconic place that Irishmen went to drink on St. Patrick's Day was The Royal Dublin Dog Show, and this was a consistent place to celebrate from 1927 to 1961 because the venue served alcohol.

After the holiday became a national one, the owners of the dog show were happy to see people go drink legally at the pubs instead.

The History Of The Shamrock

The shamrock is essential to St. Patrick's Day and the country of Ireland itself, and there is a complex history behind the plant.

The shamrock first became a symbol of Ireland after St. Patrick used it to describe the Holy Trinity because it has three leaves (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit).

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People in Ireland have also used this plant to bring countries together, and every year since 1952, the Irish Prime Minister will hand shamrocks to the United States President in an official ceremony.

As far as the shamrock or clover plant, it is also said that Ireland has the most four-leaf clovers in the world.

Great Britain Didn't Celebrate This Holiday In The 1970s

Great Britain and Ireland have a complicated history, so during certain conflicts, St. Patrick's Day would not be celebrated or only celebrated privately.

In the 1970s, Irish people could not even proudly wear shamrocks because Great Britain was extremely suspicious of them after a bombing event.

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The conflicts in Northern Ireland throughout history also affected the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in both Ireland and Great Britain, but thankfully the conflicts were resolved over the past few decades, and the holiday is now able to be peacefully celebrated in both places.

The Shamrock Is Always Celebrated In Ireland

Shamrocks are important on more than just St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, and in fact, they are celebrated every day in that country because it is their national flower and emblem.

People have been associating shamrocks with Ireland for centuries, but in 1985, it became the official Irish emblem.

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In 1986, the Irish authorities decided to trademark the shamrock, and that is when the plant officially became registered as an Irish emblem.

Since the 1800s, the shamrock plant has been the basis for famous ballads, pieces of art, songs, and poems, and continues to serve as inspiration today.

Chicago's Celebration

Chicago has one of the most elaborate St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the country, for the government uses over 40 pounds of dye to make the river green (pictured below). This annual St. Patrick's Day tradition first started in 1962 after the mayor, Richard J. Daley, proposed the idea to the public.

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Nobody knows what the dye is made from, but the government ensures that it is safe for the environment, and the river eventually returns to its normal color.

After the dye is put into the water, it takes almost an hour before the portion of the river going through Chicago is a lucky green.

The Importance Of Dance

During St. Patrick's Day celebrations, dance is a crucial form of celebration for Irish people.

Pictured below is a young Irish girl doing the Irish step dance, which is essential to their culture and has been passed down for over 2,000 years.

Moreover, the Celts were the first to introduce this dance to people in Ireland.

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Irish dances are passed down to the younger generations so that they can be preserved and withstand the test of time, and there are multiple forms of the Irish step dance depending on the event and people performing the dances.

Luckily, the Irish step dance is a tradition that is still as alive as ever, even after many centuries of evolution.

The Iconic Phrase

If you are walking around any St. Patrick's Day parade in March, you may hear the phrase, "Erin go Bragh," and this is an Irish phrase that is universally used during this holiday.

This phrase roughly translates to "Ireland Forever," and shouting it is the optimal way to celebrate Irish heritage.

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This phrase has been around for hundreds of years in Ireland and saying it demonstrates your immense support for the country.

Since people show their devotion to Ireland year-round, this is also a common phrase that is shouted during football games, protests, and other types of events.

The Celebratory Beverage Of Choice

Drinking beer and other types of alcohol was not always allowed on St. Patrick's Day, but for the past couple of decades, it has been a solid tradition that is practiced by different countries across the world.

For pubs and bars, March 17th is when they make the most sales out of the entire year.

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Across the world, beer sales increase by almost 200% during St. Patrick's Day, and around $6 billion is spent on drinks every year during this Irish holiday.

In more recent years, people have consumed more than 13 million pints of Guinness alcohol during the St. Patrick's Day festivities.

People Spend Enormous Amounts Of Money To Celebrate

Many St. Patrick's Day celebrations span a couple of days and include elaborate parades and entertainment events that last all day and night.

Almost every part of the world that participates in this holiday spends massive amounts of money to celebrate St. Patrick and the country of Ireland.

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The parades consume most of the budget for St. Patrick's Day because of the elaborate floats, musicians, organizations, and entertainers that walk the streets. Some countries spend over $5 million to host a St. Patrick's Day celebration every year, and the investment only seems to grow.

The History Of The Shamrock Shake

Most people only know about the shamrock shake that McDonald's features every March, but there is way more to the story!

The shamrock shake has been around for over fifty years, and the first company to create the idea was Rogers Merchandising, located in Chicago in the United States.

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Originally, the shamrock shake was a milkshake that consisted of vanilla ice cream that had an added lemon-lime flavor,

although the added flavoring switched to the flavor of mint since that flavor better matched the color of the final product that was produced.

Nowadays, the shake is extremely popular, and everyone looks forward to drinking one in March to celebrate the Irish!

The Importance Of Leprechauns

Leprechauns are mythical creatures that are associated with Ireland and St. Patrick's Day, and there are multiple stories about this creature that have been created over the past few centuries.

Originally, leprechauns were said to have lived among fairies and were tricksters who were oftentimes grumpy.

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According to Irish legends, leprechauns are grumpy, sly, isolated creatures, and they oftentimes have multiple riches such as pots of gold.

In America, the leprechaun has a softer image and is known as a fun, kind, mythical creature who gives you gold and wishes if you are lucky enough to find him.

Green Was Not The Original Celebratory Color

The color green is directly correlated with St. Patrick's Day and the celebration of the Irish every year, although surprisingly enough, it was not always this way!

The original Irish color was actually blue, but it was changed after there were political conflicts and interferences in the country.

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Blue was also a color often worn by St. Patrick himself, and in Irish history, a woman in a blue-colored robe oftentimes represented the sovereignty of Ireland.

Again, the color blue became tainted over the years, and the Irish color transitioned to green, which was further solidified when the Irish started to identify with the shamrock.

The Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade

Pictured below is a pub in Dripsey, Ireland, which is one of the many historical pubs involved with St. Patrick's Day in this town. This pub is one of the two main pubs in this small town in Ireland, and the two pubs were used every year to celebrate the holiday because the Irishmen would march from one pub to another as a part of the parade.

Photo Courtesy: [Sarah77/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

In 1997, this town set a world record when it hosted the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade after walking 77 feet from one of the main pubs to another.

After one of the two main pubs closed down in 2007, the small town in Ireland has not been able to celebrate in the same traditional way.

People Plant Seeds On This Day

Shamrocks are a celebrated plant across the world, and they are most known for being the symbol of Ireland. Shamrocks are so special in Ireland that people believe that there are more four-leaf clovers in this country than anywhere else in the world. Since St. Patrick's Day is all about shamrocks, many people plant seeds on this day.

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St. Patrick's Day is a time for celebration, so many plant enthusiasts or patriotic Irish people will plant shamrock seeds on this day. Shamrock seeds are planted on March 17th in order to honor Irish history and heritage and to commemorate St. Patrick who taught the Holy Trinity with this plant.

The Mayor Of Boston Received Shamrocks

Pictured below is Mayor John F. Collins, who was the mayor of Boston from 1960 to 1968, and as part of an annual tradition, he is meeting with Irish representatives.

Every year on St. Patrick's Day, Irish delegates present the mayor of Boston with a gift of shamrocks to express their alliance and friendship.

Photo Courtesy: [City of Boston Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The people pictured handing Mayor John F. Collins the shamrocks are Irish Airlines hostesses (Siobahn Fitzgerald and Ann McRedmons) and the Irish Consulate, Gearoid O' Clerigh.

These gifts of shamrocks are not only given to the mayor of Boston but also to other authorities across the United States.

Ronald Reagan's Involvement With The Holiday

During St. Patrick's Day, the authorities in Ireland like to gift shamrocks to other countries to represent their alliance and friendship. Every year, the President of the United States accepts shamrocks from the Irish Prime Minister, and pictured below is President Ronald Reagan during the celebratory tradition.

Photo Courtesy: [Unknown photographer/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Pictured above is the Irish Prime Minister, Garret Fitzgerald, handing the Waterford Bowl to President Ronald Reagan while attending the Ireland Ceremony in the Rose Garden.

This is a blessed event, and the traditional, decorated crystal bowl is full of fresh, beautiful shamrocks.

The Annual Shamrock Ceremony

Shown below is another U.S. President, George W. Bush, as he receives a gift of shamrocks on March 16th, 2007, in order to honor the Irish holiday. This ceremony is known as the annual Shamrock Ceremony, and that year, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was the Irish representative who handed over the national plant.

Photo Courtesy: [White House Photo Office/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The Shamrock Ceremony is usually held on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, and the Irish authorities make sure that the Irish representatives present the U.S. with the freshest shamrocks to symbolize their friendship.

This is a sacred tradition, and it is an honor that not many people are presented

with.

Over 200 Countries Celebrate This Holiday

St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated for many centuries, and in the present day, over 200 countries now celebrate this holiday! The basis for this holiday has always been religious, but when it became more secular, all types of different people started to celebrate across the world.

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Billions of people across the world celebrate this holiday every March, and the numbers only continue to grow. People always celebrate with extravagant parades, musicians, entertainers, arts and crafts, and food, and each country has its own unique way of celebrating Ireland and the tale of St. Patrick.

The White River Is Dyed Green

Pictured below is the White River in Indianapolis, and the authorities usually dye parts of this river green every year on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate the luck of the Irish.

This part of the White River has a beautiful fountain, and this allows for a full display of color for the Irish holiday.

Photo Courtesy: [BleezyEnternational/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The picture above is from 2015, but the people in Indianapolis have been dying the river for years, and Chicago served as their main inspiration since part of that river is dyed every year in celebration as well. The dye usually clears out within a few weeks, and the dyes are not harmful to aquatic life.

The Eiffel Tower Turns Green

After the sun sets on March 17th in France, the authorities in Paris turn green lights on in the Eiffel Tower to celebrate the honorable St. Patrick and the Irish holiday that celebrates heritage and history. The Eiffel Tower has done this in previous years, and it took inspiration from other historic monuments that commemorated the holiday.

Photo Courtesy: [U.S. Department of State/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Tourists and people who cherish St. Patrick's Day travel to Paris just to see the green Eiffel Tower on this religious holiday, and France celebrates Irish heritage and St. Patrick by partying in the streets, at restaurants, and in pubs all night long just like many other countries.

The History Of The Color Green

The iconic color for Ireland and even more so for St. Patrick's Day is green, and there is an extensive history behind why green is the chosen color.

The original color for Ireland and the holiday was blue, but due to political conflicts, the nation started to find pride in the color green instead.

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Ireland is also associated with the color green because it has the nickname "Emerald Isle," which was bestowed upon it because of all the beautiful green landscapes that grow across the country.

Since the country receives a lot of rain, the green vegetation grows lusciously, and this is why Ireland's national color association is green.

The White House's Involvement

The White House is in Washington D.C., and every year since 2009, the presidential building has put dye in one of its fountains to turn it the lucky color green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Even though this tradition is relatively new, the president takes joy in doing it every March 17th.

Photo Courtesy: [White House/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

There are multiple fountains across the property, and the authorities usually only dye one fountain to commemorate St. Patrick and those with Irish ancestry.

The fountain that is always dyed green at the White House is the north fountain, which is the one that most people see on a daily basis.

Kissing An Irish Person Is Good Luck On This Day

On St. Patrick's Day, you will commonly hear the phrase, "kiss me I'm Irish," and this phrase has an interesting history that originates back to a piece of stone in an Irish castle. In the 1400s, Blarney Castle was built, and built into it was a section of carboniferous limestone. If you kissed this rock, you were said to have gained the skill of flattery.

Photo Courtesy: [Spc/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

People would go to the piece of limestone and kiss it to gain charisma and the power of love language.

This castle with the "kissing rock" was built near Cork, Ireland in the 15th century, and the legend of that rock still lives on today in this iconic St. Patrick's Day phrase.

The Iconic St. Patrick's Day Food

Shamrock shakes and shamrock bread are some of the most popular foods to eat on St. Patrick's Day, but the ultimate food to eat on this holiday is corned beef and cabbage.

This dish is prepared in numerous ways but mainly consists of cabbage, potatoes, and corned beef.

Photo Courtesy: [JonaThunder/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Surprisingly, this dish actually has American roots because the industry for salted beef was first established in America versus in Ireland.

Although, Ireland eventually caught onto this industry, and they began to cure beef and produce this specialty dish in their own country on a more frequent basis.

The Historic Horseshoe

The shamrock is not the only symbol of St. Patrick's Day, for a horseshoe is also considered a good luck charm in Ireland as well.

The horseshoe is used to bring good luck to oneself, and other Irish symbols include a rabbit's foot and sprigs of heather which can be used to bring good fortune.

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A horseshoe has been considered a symbol of luck for hundreds of years, and this is because they are made by blacksmiths, who are considered very lucky beings.

The durability of a horseshoe is also what makes it a lucky item, and the "U" shape is known to ward off evil spirits from your life.

There Is A Church Service In The Morning

There are multiple ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and most people make it an all-day celebration on March 17th. Everyone enjoys attending the parade, although this is not the only event that is held on this holiday, for there are also special St. Patrick's Day religious services.

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There is always a morning church service on the day of St. Patrick's Day, and this mainly takes place in Catholic churches. This takes the holiday back to its roots since St. Patrick's Day is all about celebrating the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland and preached there for over 30 years.

Baking Shamrock Bread To Celebrate

A mass amount of baked goods and delicacies are baked and consumed on St. Patrick's Day every year, and one of the most traditional baked goods to eat on this holiday is shamrock bread.

Shamrock bread is also known as Irish soda bread and there is no yeast used in the recipe.

Photo Courtesy: [Wheeler Cowperthwaite/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

Shamrock bread is created with buttermilk and baking soda instead of yeast, and it tastes somewhat like a biscuit.

Shamrock bread is rarely eaten by itself, and people oftentimes eat the bread with meat and vegetables, or more commonly, with various kinds of butter and jams.

There Are Hundreds Of Parades Every Year

You could go to almost any state in the United States on March 17th and there will be a St. Patrick's Day parade. In total, there are over 100 St. Patrick's Day parades every year in America, and the number only continues to grow over the years as people indulge in Irish culture.

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Every St. Patrick's Day is unique, and not all parades are as large as the New York parade. The majority of the parades consist of talented musicians and dancers that exhibit Irish culture, and the festivities are also filled with Irish foods to honor Irish ancestry and the honorable St. Patrick.

The Sydney Opera House Celebrates The Holiday

On March 17th, 2018, the Sydney Opera House in Australia decided to honor the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick's Day by turning all of its lights green. This was a grand gesture to honor Ireland and the lucky color green could be seen across the Sydney Harbour while people were celebrating the holiday.

Photo Courtesy: [Kahunapule Michael Johnson/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The Sydney Opera House is arguably the best performing arts center in the world, and so when the Australian government decided to light up the whole structure to be green for St. Patrick's Day,

it was a wonderful spectacle that demonstrated Australia's support and alliance for Ireland.

The New York Parade Today

Various Irish aid societies came together to form the first New York parade in 1848, and people have been celebrating every year since then.

Every year, almost 200,000 people participate in the parade as musicians, dancers, entertainers, or representatives from an organization.

Photo Courtesy: [James Felder/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

The New York St. Patrick's Day parade is one of the largest in the world, and over 3 million people attend this celebration every year to honor Ireland and St. Patrick.

The parade is about two miles long in New York, and the fascinating parade lasts five or more hours every year.

The Importance Of Sports

One of the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day is to go to a pub and watch a football game with other Irelanders while drinking a beer.

In fact, this is one of the most common ways to celebrate the holiday in Ireland, especially because sports play a vital role in their culture.

Photo Courtesy: [Irish Defense Forces/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain]

If you walk into any pub on March 17th, there will be some sort of Irish football game on the television.

Watching sports at the pub on St. Patrick's Day is the best way to meet new friends to celebrate with, and people become united while cheering for the Irish teams and drinking a traditional beverage.

Irish People In The U.S.

Irish people started immigrating to the United States starting in the early 1700s, and they have been an essential part of American culture ever since.

Without so many Irish people in the U.S., St. Patrick's Day would not be extravagantly celebrated in the states like it is today, for over 10% of the U.S. population is Irish-American.

Photo Courtesy: [Pascal Bernardon/Unsplash/Public Domain]

There are over 34 million people with Irish ancestry in the U.S., and almost all of them celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17th.

The state with the greatest portion of Irish Americans is Massachusetts (21.6%), and this dates back to 1715 when most immigrants settled in that state.