St. Patrick's Day

What Is St. Patrick's Day?

Every year on March 17th, the world celebrates "St. Patrick's Day," one of Ireland's largest festivals (a public holiday there since 1903), commemorating the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland around the 5th century. Originally a religious observance, it has since grown into an international celebration of Irish culture and tradition, observed in countries with large Irish diaspora communities such as the United States, and in many other places including Japan, where cities turn green for the occasion.

The History Behind St. Patrick's Symbols

The "shamrock" and the color green, both central to this day, carry deep meaning.

• The three-leaf shamrock: Legend holds that St. Patrick used the shamrock, a clover native to Ireland, to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity. This is the basis for the shamrock's status as a symbol of Ireland today.
• From blue to green: The color once associated with St. Patrick is said to have been blue, but green -- linked to Ireland's lush landscape (the "Emerald Isle") and to the independence movement -- gradually took over from around the 18th century.

A Celebration That Spread Around the World

Enthusiastic parades held outside Ireland helped turn this into a global celebration.

• New York's massive parade: The world's largest St. Patrick's Day parade takes place not in Ireland, but in New York City. This tradition, with the first recorded parade in 1762, became an important ritual for immigrants to affirm their roots and pride.
• Chicago's green river: In Chicago, the Chicago River has been dyed a vivid green every year since 1962, using a dye said to be environmentally safe.

Interesting Facts About St. Patrick's Day

• The legend of leprechauns: Ireland's leprechauns, mischievous fairies dressed in green who make shoes and hide pots of gold at the end of rainbows, are one of this day's most famous symbols worldwide.
• Landmarks turn green:​ Around this day, landmarks around the world such as the Sydney Opera House are lit up in green for the "Global Greening," and some sites in Japan take part too.
• Guinness consumption: Consumption of Guinness, Ireland's famous stout, is said to more than double worldwide on this day -- an essential drink for the celebration.
• The legend of the snakes: According to legend, St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, but scientifically, Ireland never had any native snakes to begin with, likely due to its post-Ice Age isolation.
• Celebrated in Japan too: Since 1992, a parade has been held on Omotesando in Tokyo, said to be one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in Asia.

Ideas for Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

• Wear something green to share in the sense of connection with people around the world celebrating, and to welcome the arrival of spring
• Try traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage, or enjoy lively Celtic music at an Irish pub
• In honor of the shamrock, look for clover along your commute and enjoy the signs of spring
• Explore Irish history or the works of Irish writers like Oscar Wilde, and discover the resilience and humor woven into Irish culture

Bright Smiles and Solidarity Bring a Rainbow of Luck to Your Day

March 17th is a day of pride in your own roots and of celebration and openness that crosses every border. Let the lively rhythm of the parades lift your spirits, and good luck may follow. The fresh vitality symbolized by the color green can help draw out the potential sleeping within you. May today be filled with smiling encounters and turn out to be a wonderfully lucky, happy day!