Saint Patrick’s Day, feast day (March 17) of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. People of that country celebrate the day with religious services and feasts, but Saint Patrick’s Day has transformed into a largely secular holiday of revelry in other parts of the world. St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture that takes place annually on March 17, the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland's death in the fifth century. The holiday has This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 13 March 2025. Cultural and religious celebration on 17 March For other uses, see Saint Patrick's Day (disambiguation). Saint Patrick's Day Saint Patrick depicted in a stained-glass window at Saint Benin's Church, Ireland Official name Saint Patrick's Day Also called Feast of Saint Patrick Lá Fhéile St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture that takes place annually on March 17, the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland's death in the fifth century. The Irish have The 200 th anniversary of St Patrick’s Day was marked in Sydney Opera House by making it green. 17. The first St Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737. Dyeing of the Chicago river on Saint Patrick’s day. Image credit – berni0004. 18. On this day, people usually eat corned beef and cabbage, and they This is one of the few St. Patrick’s Day facts that I did know..! The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in New York City. The parade attracts a staggering two million+ people every year. 4. Ireland’s first parade. The very first St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was held in County Waterford in 1903. 5. A national holiday New York City and the First St. Patrick’s Day Parade One of the earliest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America took place in Boston in 1737, when a group of Irish Protestants gathered to St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17 each year, is known for its parades, shamrocks, and a whole lot of green. It’s a day when people around the world embrace Irish culture — whether they have Irish heritage or not. But behind all the revelry, St. Patrick’s Day has a deep and fascinating history that goes far beyond the modern celebrations. Some of the traditions we associate with The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was not in Ireland but in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1601. The modern large-scale St. Patrick’s Day parade tradition started in New York City in 1762. Chicago dyes its river green every St. Patrick’s Day, a tradition that started in 1962. On March 17, we’ll don our green shirts and shamrock socks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday has been celebrated in some form for centuries. It started as a casual recognition of St. Patrick’s death around the fifth century then became an official feast day in the Catholic Church in the 17th century, according to Time. Discover 12 fascinating St. Patrick’s Day facts that blend Irish history, folklore, and modern celebrations. From the origins of the shamrock to eco-friendly initiatives and virtual parades, explore intriguing insights into the legacy of St. Patrick’s Day and embrace the spirit of the Emerald Isle. The next section of our fun St. Patrick’s Day facts focuses on the day itself – March 17th. Below, you’ll find some handy St. Patrick’s Day trivia that’ll go perfect in a quiz. 1. Why March 17th? St. Patrick’s Day is held on March 17th as this is the day that St. Patrick died. On March 17th we celebrate his life along with Irish St. Patrick’s Day was recognized by the Vatican as an official feast day in 1631. [4] In the latter part of the 19th century, Irish high society celebrated St. Patrick's Day at a grand ball held at the castle in Dublin. [4] St. Patrick’s Day was declared a public, rather than religious, holiday in Ireland in 1904. [4] Given that St. Patrick’s Day honors the Irish Bishop St. Patrick, it is understandable that the shamrock is prominently featured in the celebrations. Over time, however, the four-leaf clover has also become connected to this holiday, despite the shamrock’s stronger ties. St. Patrick's Day is full of fun and quirky facts that add to its charm. No snakes in Ireland : Legend says St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland, but there were never any snakes to begin with due to the island's climate . St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture that takes place annually on March 17, the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland's death in the fifth century. The Irish have Today, corned beef remains a staple dish for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, especially in the U.S., where it became a beloved tradition among Irish immigrants. 7. Blue Was the Original Color of St. Patrick’s Day. Before green became the signature color of St. Patrick’s Day, blue was actually the color associated with the holiday. 10. Over 3,000 St. Patrick’s Day Parades Take Place Worldwide! March 17th is one of the biggest parade days in the world—with over 3,000 parades globally! The biggest parades:
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