Saint Patrick’s Day

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On March 17, people around the world celebrate the Irish holiday of Saint Patrick’s Day. March 1' is the date of his death. It is a big holiday in Ireland. Ireland is a mostly Roman Catholic coun­try. Saint Patrick lived in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago. People believe he brought Christian­ity to the country. One traditional story says that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.

Irish people used to honor March 17 quietly. Going to church services was the main activity. Everyone had to wear a small three-leafed plant called shamrock. In the early 1900s, Ireland’s government made St. Patrick’s Day an official holiday. By the 1960s, towns across Ireland started celebrating the holiday with parades and music. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because the country is covered in deep green grass. That is why green colour is a traditional colour of St. Patrick’s celebrations. In Ireland today, St. Patrick’s Day is a four-day public celebration that includes parades, music, food, and games. For Irish people living in other countries, Saint Pat­rick’s Day became a chance to celebrate their Irish culture.

Now, countries and cities around the world celebrate March 17 in creative ways. Many countries hold Saint Patrick’s Day parades. Famous monuments, including the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome, the Niagara Falls, and the Gateway of India in Mumbai will all be coloured by green light for the day. The U.S. is especially famous for its Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations. Many cities, where there are a lot of Irish immigrants, like Boston, New York and Chicago, hold parades and parties. Cities will also colour the local rivers green for the day.

Popularity of Saint Patrick’s Day around the world has helped the Irish government, which uses the holiday as a form of diplomacy.