St. Patrick’s Day

Held annually on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day observes the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.

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Dancers dressed in green performing in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Munich.

Kirill_Liv/Getty Images

Dancers dressed in green performing in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Munich.

Kirill_Liv/Getty Images

Featured Overview

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A group of Irish dancers perform during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago on March 11, 2000.

History of St. Patrick’s Day

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 spiritual meaning in Ireland, where it has been observed as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.

St. Patrick pray for your children, printed on open book with saint in foreground, church in background ca. 1888St. Patrick pray for your children, printed on open book with saint in foreground, church in background ca. 1888. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Who Was St. Patrick?

He wasn't Irish, but he found his faith while being held as prisoner by a group of Irish raiders.

How St. Patrick’s Day Took on New Life in America

St. Patrick may be the patron saint of Ireland, but many St. Patrick’s Day traditions were born in the United States.

(Original Caption) Woodcut depicting the Anniversary of St. Patrick's Day in New York, Saturday, March 17, 1860. The triumphal car of the Burd of Erin, military companies, civic authorities, friendly societies, etc. are all shown. Undated illustration.

7 St. Patrick’s Day Legends and Myths Debunked

Before you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, get your facts straight by exploring common misconceptions about the holiday.

3 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick

St. Patrick Was Never Canonized

Despite his status as a patron saint, St. Patrick was never actually canonized by the Catholic Church. Many still consider him to hold saintly status nonetheless.

(Original Caption) Woodcut depicting the Anniversary of St. Patrick's Day in New York, Saturday, March 17, 1860. The triumphal car of the Burd of Erin, military companies, civic authorities, friendly societies, etc. are all shown. Undated illustration.

The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade Was Held in America

While people in Ireland had celebrated St. Patrick since the 1600s, the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day parade actually began in America—before the nation’s founding.

Medieval stained glass window showing Saint Brigit.

Ireland’s Only Female Patron Saint Has Her Own Holiday

One of Ireland’s three patron saints, alongside St. Patrick and St. Colmcille, St. Brigid is the patron saint of nuns and newborns. In 2023, Ireland designated February 1 a permanent holiday in her honor.

Saint Patrick

Was St. Patrick Irish?

St. Patrick converted the Irish to Christianity, but there's more to know about Ireland's patron saint—like the fact that he wasn't Irish.

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St. Patrick’s Day
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St. Patrick's Day in 1776 Marked a Step Towards American Independence

The British retreated from Boston on March 17, 1776, in the first major Patriot victory of the American Revolution.

Dancers dressed in green performing in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Munich.

Why We Wear Green on St. Patrick’s Day

Dressing in green on St. Patrick's can trace its roots to leprechaun legends, as well as a sign of Irish defiance.

Surprising Facts about St. Patrick's Day

9 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

Who was the real St. Patrick? Was that legend about the snakes true? And why did so many St. Patrick's Day traditions start in America?

(Original Caption) Woodcut depicting the Anniversary of St. Patrick's Day in New York, Saturday, March 17, 1860. The triumphal car of the Burd of Erin, military companies, civic authorities, friendly societies, etc. are all shown. Undated illustration.

7 St. Patrick’s Day Legends and Myths Debunked

Before you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, get your facts straight by exploring common misconceptions about the holiday.

St Patrick: Kidnapped by Pirates and Enslaved at 16

The patron saint of Ireland first arrived in Ireland in the hold of a slave ship.

How St. Patrick’s Day Took on New Life in America

St. Patrick may be the patron saint of Ireland, but many St. Patrick’s Day traditions were born in the United States.

A marching band participates in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along 5th Ave. on March 17, 2018 in New York City. New York's Saint Patrick's Day parade is the largest in the world.

History of St. Patrick’s Day Parades Around the World

Learn about the first, earliest, biggest and most famous St. Patrick's Day parades around the world, in cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and Dublin.

Revellers dressed in green pose photo during the the annual St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin on March 17, 2022.

Is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated in Ireland?

The holiday was traditionally a more solemn occasion on the Emerald Isle—until Americans got involved.

A group of Irish dancers perform during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago on March 11, 2000.

History of St. Patrick’s Day

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 spiritual meaning in Ireland, where it has been observed as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green, find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick’s Day came to be, and learn about a few that are purely American inventions.

St. Patrick pray for your children, printed on open book with saint in foreground, church in background ca. 1888St. Patrick pray for your children, printed on open book with saint in foreground, church in background ca. 1888. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Who Was St. Patrick?

He wasn't Irish, but he found his faith while being held as prisoner by a group of Irish raiders.