Saint Patrick’s Day

March 17th, or as it is known in many countries around the world, Saint Patrick’s Day, is the most important national holiday in Ireland. It is a day when the whole country celebrates simply being Irish, and the rich culture and heritage of Ireland.

Dublin Paddy’s Day 2009

The day is named after Saint Patrick, who brought Christianity to the island in the 5th century – over 1,500 years ago! For hundreds of years he has been celebrated ever since, and he is the “patron saint” of Ireland. (A “patron saint” is the national saint chosen by each Christian country; for example, Saint George in England, or Saint Andrew in Scotland.)

Today, people wear green – the national colour – and old Irish costumes along with modern versions of saints and leprechauns. Large folk dances are held in some areas, called “céili” (in the Irish language, “Gaelic”) and traditional music can be heard on the streets and in the pubs and parks around the country.

Guinness Storehouse St. Patrick’s Day Sign

The most important event is usually the St. Patrick’s Day parade, where you can see and hear all of these things and more, with music, dance, acrobats and costumes from Ireland and other countries where the Irish live in large numbers. The largest parade in Ireland is held in my home city of Dublin, and attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year and is broadcast live on TV for hours. (The smallest parade is in a small town in Cork, and is only 23 metres long!) Nowadays, the St. Patrick’s Day “Festival” takes almost a week and there are many events around the city.

Parades can be found in cities around the world – the biggest is not in Ireland, but in New York. In fact, the St. Patrick’s Day parade there is the oldest parade in the world! In London, Sydney, Chicago, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires you can find parades too, along with many smaller cities worldwide.

Sydney Opera House St. Patrick’s Day 2010

Chicago River Dyed Green St. Patrick’s Day

New York City St. Patrick’s Day

Yes, even in Japan you can find them – there has been a parade every year in Tokyo since 1992, and there are smaller events in Kumamoto and Osaka too.

Traditionally, the head of the Irish government is invited to the White House in Washington to be presented with a bowl of “shamrock” by the President of the US. St. Patrick’s Day is a time to share with your friends and family, both near and far.