St. Patrick’s Day History and Traditions

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a missionary who is credited with converting much of Ireland in the 5th century. The shamrock became a St. Patty’s Day icon because St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

While today it is mainly known for green beer, parades, and Irish music, the origins of St. Patrick's Day can be traced back to the early 17th century when the Catholic Church declared March 17th to be a feast day to honor St. Patrick.

As Irish immigrants began settling in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought with them the tradition of celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Over time, St. Patrick's Day became a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, with parades, festivals, and other events held in many cities around the world—including Japan, Singapore, and Russia. Today, people of all backgrounds come together to celebrate with food, music, dance, and, of course, the wearing o’ the green. It has often been said that everybody’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day!

US holiday traditions include:

1.            Wearing Green: The color green is associated with Ireland, and it is believed that wearing green will bring good luck.

2.            Parades: St. Patrick’s Day parades are a popular tradition in many cities across the country. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1762.

3.            Corned Beef and Cabbage: Corned beef and cabbage is the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal in the United States. However, in Ireland, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal is lamb or bacon!

4.            Shamrocks: Shamrocks are a symbol of Ireland that are often associated with St. Patrick.

5.            Leprechauns: Leprechauns are part of Irish lore, known as mischievous creatures who hide pots of gold at the end of rainbows.

6.            Green beer: This is a popular US tradition that isn’t practiced in Ireland. Rumor has it that it was first served at a St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City in 1914, when members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians added green food coloring to their beer to celebrate their Irish heritage.

However you plan on celebrating your St. Patrick’s Day, Alert1 wishes you a safe, happy, and healthy holiday!