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St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and to celebrate everything about the Irish culture.
St. Patrick’s Day has been commemorated on March 17 since St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century. Christians were observing it as a religious feast day. Because St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, it became a day for Christians to take a break from the abstinence practiced during the weeks leading up to Easter. By the 1700s, the holiday had started to take a decidedly more festive turn than its founders had intended. In America, St. Patrick’s Day slowly shifted from a religious observation to a secular celebration of Irish heritage thanks to Irish immigrants. On March 17th, many will wear green in honor of the Irish and decorate with shamrocks.

According to lore, the wearing of the green tradition dates back to a story written about St. Patrick in 1726. The tradition is tied to folklore that says wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, which like to pinch anyone they can see. Some people also think sporting the color will bring good luck, and others wear it to honor their Irish ancestry. Over time, green was adopted as the color of the Irish rebellion and the shamrock became a key symbol even earning a spot on Ireland’s flag. Green represents the Catholics who rebelled against protestant England. Many local restaurants will offer traditional Irish food. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!