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| Meta Title | What Is St. Patrick's Day? The History of the March 17 Holiday | ||||||||||||
| Meta Description | St. Patrick's Day marks the day Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, died in 461, but many of the lively traditions we know today began with Irish Americans. | ||||||||||||
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| Boilerpipe Text | St. Patrick's Day is here! And while the holiday falls on a Monday this year (womp), we're using it as an excuse to celebrate all weekend. That means it's officially time to break out the
green cocktails
and don your best
St. Patrick's Day sweater
. But first, let's take a look back at why we celebrate in the first place.
Why exactly do we celebrate on March 17? Who was St. Patrick, when was he born, and why do we care about the patron saint of Ireland in the United States? What exactly do
leprechauns
have to do with it all? Where did all those
St. Patrick's Day traditions
like parades and all things
shamrock
come from? There's plenty of
trivia
behind the holiday to explore, so read on to find all you need to know before you head out to the pub or this year's Irish festivities.
MANUELVELASCO
What is the history behind St. Patrick's Day?
According to Historic UK
, St. Patrick's Day has been commemorated on March 17 since St. Patrick's death in the fifth century.
As early as the ninth or tenth century
, Christians were observing it as a religious feast day. The holiday was officially added to the Church calendar
in the early 17th century
. As for the first St. Patrick's Day parade, though not the raucous occasion we know today, that took place in 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida (the Spanish colony had an Irish vicar!).
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
. And while the Irish-American population
increased dramatically during the 19th century
, in part due to Ireland's Potato Blight of 1845, St. Patrick's Day traditions in the U.S. stretch back a century earlier.
Keith Lance
//
Getty Images
A vintage engraving of a St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.
Irish-Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737: a dinner hosted by the newly founded
Charitable Irish Society
, which remains an annual tradition nearly three centuries later. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which has become
the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade
in the world.
The coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, has staked its claim as the
St. Patrick's Day capital of the South
, with celebrations dating back to 1812, while Chicago, famed for dyeing its river green since 1962, has been parading
since 1843
.
These American cities still offer some of the biggest celebrations dedicated to the man who allegorically drove the snakes out of Ireland. The holiday's Irish-American roots also explain why some traditional
St. Patrick's Day foods
, like corned beef and cabbage, are not actually Irish (
the Irish prefer pork
).
YANNICK TYLLE
Who was St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born around 386 CE in Roman Britain,
possibly in the area that is today known as Wales
. At the age of 16, he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity. He then escaped, only to later return to bring Christianity to the people of Ireland—not the kind of light-hearted hijinks you might think would inspire a holiday so devoted to it.
During his life, Patrick became a priest and founded schools, churches, and monasteries throughout the Emerald Isle before his death on March 17, 461 CE. However, some are surprised to learn that the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland was
never canonized as saint
by the Catholic Church. This lack of official sainthood is because there was no formal canonization process in the 400s. Calling him "Saint" Patrick is likely to have caught on and stuck over time due to his popular acclaim.
BO ZAUNDERS
Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
It's only since the
Irish Rebellion of 1798 that the shade has become associated with the holiday
. Blue, which adorned the ancient Irish flag, was first identified with St. Patrick's Day. But the rebels wore green to differentiate themselves from the British, who clothed themselves in red, and the color has since come to denote Ireland and the Irish to all the world.
Shamrocks, the national plant of Ireland, also add to the sea of green on March 17. Though legend holds that Saint Patrick used three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity, there is
no historical evidence to prove it
. However, the shamrock has been used as a symbol of the Emerald Isle since the late 17th/early 18th century.
Who celebrates St. Patrick's Day?
While commemorating St. Patrick’s Day in the wildly celebratory way we know today is largely the invention of Irish-Americans, Irish in the homeland have taken to it as well. In 1903,
St. Patrick's Day became a public holiday in Ireland
, expanding the religious celebration to the secular realm. The parades followed, starting in Waterford that same year. Today,
the earliest parade in Ireland
famously kicks off in Dingle just before sunup! It's attended by townsfolk and tourists alike. And in Dublin, where the first St. Paddy's Day parade was held in 1931, the party has grown to a
four-day festival
!
St. Patrick's Day has also
spread worldwide
, with celebrations in England, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, to name a few.
So, are leprechauns real?
Short answer: no. But the legends behind them are an important part of Irish culture.
Read on.
Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.
Terri Robertson has been an editor and storyteller for more than 20 years. As Senior Digital Editor at
Country Living
, she curates daily newsletters and has found a niche writing about
odd corners of the internet
and people embracing
American life off the beaten path
. She’s passionate about gardening and nature, writing about everything from
super monarchs
to
supermoons
. She also contributes to
Country Living
’s entertainment coverage, including
HGTV stars
, popular
TV shows
, and
music
. Â
Terri began her career proofreading
Southern Living
cookbooks—a first job befitting an English major with a childhood penchant for reading her mom’s cookbooks—and went on to edit many food, garden, and lifestyle titles. She later worked for the University of Alabama’s marketing and communications division, capturing the stories of students and faculty.
Returning to lifestyle media in 2017, she covered local arts, culture, and business news in Birmingham, Alabama, for
Bham Now
and later served as digital media manager for
Flower
magazine, a luxury home, garden, and lifestyle publication, before finding her home at
Country Living
. She and her husband live with their four
cats
in Birmingham. | ||||||||||||
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1. [Country Life](https://www.countryliving.com/life/)
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3. [What Is St. Patrick's Day? Here's Why We Party and Wear Green](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/)
# What Is St. Patrick's Day? Here's Why We Party and Wear Green
The real history behind the March holiday might surprise you.
By [Jill Gleeson](https://www.countryliving.com/author/17246/jill-gleeson/ "Jill Gleeson"), [Terri Robertson](https://www.countryliving.com/author/241553/terri-robertson/ "Terri Robertson")
Updated: Mar 8, 2025
1
St. Patrick's Day is here! And while the holiday falls on a Monday this year (womp), we're using it as an excuse to celebrate all weekend. That means it's officially time to break out the [green cocktails](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g26326487/green-cocktails/) and don your best [St. Patrick's Day sweater](https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g64034747/st-patricks-day-sweaters/). But first, let's take a look back at why we celebrate in the first place.
Why exactly do we celebrate on March 17? Who was St. Patrick, when was he born, and why do we care about the patron saint of Ireland in the United States? What exactly do [leprechauns](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30612495/are-leprechauns-real/) have to do with it all? Where did all those [St. Patrick's Day traditions](https://www.countryliving.com/life/g30796247/st-patricks-day-traditions/) like parades and all things [shamrock](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a42791437/four-leaf-clovers/) come from? There's plenty of [trivia](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a38903994/st-patricks-day-trivia/) behind the holiday to explore, so read on to find all you need to know before you head out to the pub or this year's Irish festivities.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-statue-1643397725.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
MANUELVELASCO
## What is the history behind St. Patrick's Day?
[According to Historic UK](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/St-Patrick-The-most-celebrated-Welshman-in-America/), St. Patrick's Day has been commemorated on March 17 since St. Patrick's death in the fifth century. [As early as the ninth or tenth century](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day), Christians were observing it as a religious feast day. The holiday was officially added to the Church calendar [in the early 17th century](https://time.com/4261456/st-patrick-day-2016-history-real-saint/). As for the first St. Patrick's Day parade, though not the raucous occasion we know today, that took place in 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida (the Spanish colony had an Irish vicar!).
## Related Story
- [Happy St. Patrick's Day Quotes and Messages](https://www.countryliving.com/life/g19045953/st-patricks-day-quotes/)
Because St. Patrick’s Day falls during [Lent](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a26294776/when-is-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](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day). And while the Irish-American population [increased dramatically during the 19th century](https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/irish-catholic-immigration-to-america/), in part due to Ireland's Potato Blight of 1845, St. Patrick's Day traditions in the U.S. stretch back a century earlier.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-in-america-royalty-free-illustration-1678889204.jpg?resize=1600:*)
Keith Lance//Getty Images
A vintage engraving of a St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.
Irish-Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737: a dinner hosted by the newly founded [Charitable Irish Society](https://www.charitableirishsociety.org/About-Us), which remains an annual tradition nearly three centuries later. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which has become [the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade](https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/about/) in the world.
The coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, has staked its claim as the [St. Patrick's Day capital of the South](https://gardenandgun.com/articles/why-is-savannah-the-st-patricks-day-capital-of-the-south/), with celebrations dating back to 1812, while Chicago, famed for dyeing its river green since 1962, has been parading [since 1843](https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/holidays/st-patricks-day-chicago/).
These American cities still offer some of the biggest celebrations dedicated to the man who allegorically drove the snakes out of Ireland. The holiday's Irish-American roots also explain why some traditional [St. Patrick's Day foods](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2251/st-patricks-day-recipes/), like corned beef and cabbage, are not actually Irish ([the Irish prefer pork](https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/history/corned-beef-and-cabbage-origin/)).
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-green-river-1643397862.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
YANNICK TYLLE
## Who was St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born around 386 CE in Roman Britain, [possibly in the area that is today known as Wales](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/St-Patrick-The-most-celebrated-Welshman-in-America/). At the age of 16, he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity. He then escaped, only to later return to bring Christianity to the people of Ireland—not the kind of light-hearted hijinks you might think would inspire a holiday so devoted to it.
During his life, Patrick became a priest and founded schools, churches, and monasteries throughout the Emerald Isle before his death on March 17, 461 CE. However, some are surprised to learn that the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland was [never canonized as saint](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick) by the Catholic Church. This lack of official sainthood is because there was no formal canonization process in the 400s. Calling him "Saint" Patrick is likely to have caught on and stuck over time due to his popular acclaim.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-parade-1643397784.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
BO ZAUNDERS
## Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
It's only since the [Irish Rebellion of 1798 that the shade has become associated with the holiday](http://time.com/4261456/st-patrick-day-2016-history-real-saint/). Blue, which adorned the ancient Irish flag, was first identified with St. Patrick's Day. But the rebels wore green to differentiate themselves from the British, who clothed themselves in red, and the color has since come to denote Ireland and the Irish to all the world.
Shamrocks, the national plant of Ireland, also add to the sea of green on March 17. Though legend holds that Saint Patrick used three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity, there is [no historical evidence to prove it](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a42791437/four-leaf-clovers/). However, the shamrock has been used as a symbol of the Emerald Isle since the late 17th/early 18th century.
## Related Story
- [St. Patrick’s Day Captions for All Your 🍀 Pics](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a30705907/st-patricks-day-captions/)
## Who celebrates St. Patrick's Day?
While commemorating St. Patrick’s Day in the wildly celebratory way we know today is largely the invention of Irish-Americans, Irish in the homeland have taken to it as well. In 1903, [St. Patrick's Day became a public holiday in Ireland](https://www.lensculture.com/articles/shane-lynam-the-parade-st-patrick-s-day), expanding the religious celebration to the secular realm. The parades followed, starting in Waterford that same year. Today, [the earliest parade in Ireland](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/festivals/st-patricks-day/the-earliest-parade-in-ireland-kingdom-kicks-off-st-patricks-day-celebrations-at-midnight-34548501.html) famously kicks off in Dingle just before sunup! It's attended by townsfolk and tourists alike. And in Dublin, where the first St. Paddy's Day parade was held in 1931, the party has grown to a [four-day festival](https://stpatricksfestival.ie/)\!
St. Patrick's Day has also [spread worldwide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day), with celebrations in England, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, to name a few.
## So, are leprechauns real?
Short answer: no. But the legends behind them are an important part of Irish culture. [Read on.](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30612495/are-leprechauns-real/)
[Jill Gleeson](https://www.countryliving.com/author/17246/jill-gleeson/)
Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.
[Terri Robertson](https://www.countryliving.com/author/241553/terri-robertson/)
Senior Digital Editor
Terri Robertson has been an editor and storyteller for more than 20 years. As Senior Digital Editor at *Country Living*, she curates daily newsletters and has found a niche writing about [odd corners of the internet](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a65402708/jeff-giant-grocery-store-fern/) and people embracing [American life off the beaten path](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/food-news/a68889990/tara-royer-steele-round-top-pie-queen/). She’s passionate about gardening and nature, writing about everything from [super monarchs](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a67979068/super-monarch-butterfly-migration/) to [supermoons](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/outdoors/a69239337/closest-supermoon-best-view-states-2025/). She also contributes to *Country Living*’s entertainment coverage, including [HGTV stars](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a63572842/erin-napier-shares-bittersweet-news-with-home-town-fans/), popular [TV shows](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a46786413/cbs-sitcom-ghosts-filming-location-usa/), and [music](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a63082415/breland-family-roots-project-2024/).
Terri began her career proofreading *Southern Living* cookbooks—a first job befitting an English major with a childhood penchant for reading her mom’s cookbooks—and went on to edit many food, garden, and lifestyle titles. She later worked for the University of Alabama’s marketing and communications division, capturing the stories of students and faculty.
Returning to lifestyle media in 2017, she covered local arts, culture, and business news in Birmingham, Alabama, for *Bham Now* and later served as digital media manager for *Flower* magazine, a luxury home, garden, and lifestyle publication, before finding her home at *Country Living*. She and her husband live with their four [cats](https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a66108412/potaroma-interactive-cat-toy/) in Birmingham.
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## [St. Patrick's Day Ideas for an Extra Lucky Holiday](https://www.countryliving.com/st-patricks-day/)
[7 Gorgeous Green Flowers to Grow in Your Garden](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a70758792/green-flowers-to-grow/)
[Why Four-Leaf Clovers Are Lucky](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/outdoors/a70764483/why-are-four-leaf-clovers-lucky/)
[Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with These Recipes](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/holiday-recipes/a70697896/st-patricks-day-dinner/)
[What Are the Odds of Finding a 4-Leaf Clover?](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a64181097/odds-of-finding-four-leaf-clover/)
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[13 ShamROCKING Irish Songs to Play on Paddy's Day](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g64075039/st-patricks-day-songs/)
[Our Favorite Green Rooms](https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/color/a64092682/best-green-rooms/)
[Four Simple Steps for Making the Best Beef Stew](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a64132274/st-patricks-day-beef-stew-tips/)
[Make Your Own Green Beer This St. Patrick's Day](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a30795445/how-to-make-green-beer/)
[49 Fun St. Patrick’s Day Trivia for a Quiz Night](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a38903994/st-patricks-day-trivia/)
[25 Easy Irish Appetizers for St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g46754856/best-irish-appetizer-recipes-ideas/)
[11 Fun St. Patrick's Day Games & Party Activities](https://www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g64132826/st-patricks-day-games-ideas-family-fun/)
[You’ll Love These Sweet St. Patrick’s Day Desserts](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2262/st-patricks-day-desserts/)
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| Readable Markdown | St. Patrick's Day is here! And while the holiday falls on a Monday this year (womp), we're using it as an excuse to celebrate all weekend. That means it's officially time to break out the [green cocktails](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g26326487/green-cocktails/) and don your best [St. Patrick's Day sweater](https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g64034747/st-patricks-day-sweaters/). But first, let's take a look back at why we celebrate in the first place.
Why exactly do we celebrate on March 17? Who was St. Patrick, when was he born, and why do we care about the patron saint of Ireland in the United States? What exactly do [leprechauns](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30612495/are-leprechauns-real/) have to do with it all? Where did all those [St. Patrick's Day traditions](https://www.countryliving.com/life/g30796247/st-patricks-day-traditions/) like parades and all things [shamrock](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a42791437/four-leaf-clovers/) come from? There's plenty of [trivia](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a38903994/st-patricks-day-trivia/) behind the holiday to explore, so read on to find all you need to know before you head out to the pub or this year's Irish festivities.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-statue-1643397725.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
MANUELVELASCO
## What is the history behind St. Patrick's Day?
[According to Historic UK](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/St-Patrick-The-most-celebrated-Welshman-in-America/), St. Patrick's Day has been commemorated on March 17 since St. Patrick's death in the fifth century. [As early as the ninth or tenth century](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day), Christians were observing it as a religious feast day. The holiday was officially added to the Church calendar [in the early 17th century](https://time.com/4261456/st-patrick-day-2016-history-real-saint/). As for the first St. Patrick's Day parade, though not the raucous occasion we know today, that took place in 1601 in St. Augustine, Florida (the Spanish colony had an Irish vicar!).
Because St. Patrick’s Day falls during [Lent](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a26294776/when-is-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](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day). And while the Irish-American population [increased dramatically during the 19th century](https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/irish-catholic-immigration-to-america/), in part due to Ireland's Potato Blight of 1845, St. Patrick's Day traditions in the U.S. stretch back a century earlier.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-in-america-royalty-free-illustration-1678889204.jpg?resize=1600:*)
Keith Lance//Getty Images
A vintage engraving of a St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.
Irish-Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737: a dinner hosted by the newly founded [Charitable Irish Society](https://www.charitableirishsociety.org/About-Us), which remains an annual tradition nearly three centuries later. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which has become [the largest and oldest St. Patrick's Day parade](https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/about/) in the world.
The coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, has staked its claim as the [St. Patrick's Day capital of the South](https://gardenandgun.com/articles/why-is-savannah-the-st-patricks-day-capital-of-the-south/), with celebrations dating back to 1812, while Chicago, famed for dyeing its river green since 1962, has been parading [since 1843](https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/holidays/st-patricks-day-chicago/).
These American cities still offer some of the biggest celebrations dedicated to the man who allegorically drove the snakes out of Ireland. The holiday's Irish-American roots also explain why some traditional [St. Patrick's Day foods](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2251/st-patricks-day-recipes/), like corned beef and cabbage, are not actually Irish ([the Irish prefer pork](https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/history/corned-beef-and-cabbage-origin/)).
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-green-river-1643397862.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
YANNICK TYLLE
## Who was St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born around 386 CE in Roman Britain, [possibly in the area that is today known as Wales](https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/St-Patrick-The-most-celebrated-Welshman-in-America/). At the age of 16, he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity. He then escaped, only to later return to bring Christianity to the people of Ireland—not the kind of light-hearted hijinks you might think would inspire a holiday so devoted to it.
During his life, Patrick became a priest and founded schools, churches, and monasteries throughout the Emerald Isle before his death on March 17, 461 CE. However, some are surprised to learn that the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland was [never canonized as saint](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick) by the Catholic Church. This lack of official sainthood is because there was no formal canonization process in the 400s. Calling him "Saint" Patrick is likely to have caught on and stuck over time due to his popular acclaim.
[](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a26622047/st-patricks-day-history/&description=countryliving&media=https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/st-patricks-day-history-parade-1643397784.jpeg?resize=1600:*)
BO ZAUNDERS
## Why do we wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
It's only since the [Irish Rebellion of 1798 that the shade has become associated with the holiday](http://time.com/4261456/st-patrick-day-2016-history-real-saint/). Blue, which adorned the ancient Irish flag, was first identified with St. Patrick's Day. But the rebels wore green to differentiate themselves from the British, who clothed themselves in red, and the color has since come to denote Ireland and the Irish to all the world.
Shamrocks, the national plant of Ireland, also add to the sea of green on March 17. Though legend holds that Saint Patrick used three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity, there is [no historical evidence to prove it](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a42791437/four-leaf-clovers/). However, the shamrock has been used as a symbol of the Emerald Isle since the late 17th/early 18th century.
## Who celebrates St. Patrick's Day?
While commemorating St. Patrick’s Day in the wildly celebratory way we know today is largely the invention of Irish-Americans, Irish in the homeland have taken to it as well. In 1903, [St. Patrick's Day became a public holiday in Ireland](https://www.lensculture.com/articles/shane-lynam-the-parade-st-patrick-s-day), expanding the religious celebration to the secular realm. The parades followed, starting in Waterford that same year. Today, [the earliest parade in Ireland](https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/festivals/st-patricks-day/the-earliest-parade-in-ireland-kingdom-kicks-off-st-patricks-day-celebrations-at-midnight-34548501.html) famously kicks off in Dingle just before sunup! It's attended by townsfolk and tourists alike. And in Dublin, where the first St. Paddy's Day parade was held in 1931, the party has grown to a [four-day festival](https://stpatricksfestival.ie/)\!
St. Patrick's Day has also [spread worldwide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day), with celebrations in England, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, to name a few.
## So, are leprechauns real?
Short answer: no. But the legends behind them are an important part of Irish culture. [Read on.](https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30612495/are-leprechauns-real/)
Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.
Terri Robertson has been an editor and storyteller for more than 20 years. As Senior Digital Editor at *Country Living*, she curates daily newsletters and has found a niche writing about [odd corners of the internet](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a65402708/jeff-giant-grocery-store-fern/) and people embracing [American life off the beaten path](https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/food-news/a68889990/tara-royer-steele-round-top-pie-queen/). She’s passionate about gardening and nature, writing about everything from [super monarchs](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a67979068/super-monarch-butterfly-migration/) to [supermoons](https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/outdoors/a69239337/closest-supermoon-best-view-states-2025/). She also contributes to *Country Living*’s entertainment coverage, including [HGTV stars](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a63572842/erin-napier-shares-bittersweet-news-with-home-town-fans/), popular [TV shows](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a46786413/cbs-sitcom-ghosts-filming-location-usa/), and [music](https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a63082415/breland-family-roots-project-2024/).
Terri began her career proofreading *Southern Living* cookbooks—a first job befitting an English major with a childhood penchant for reading her mom’s cookbooks—and went on to edit many food, garden, and lifestyle titles. She later worked for the University of Alabama’s marketing and communications division, capturing the stories of students and faculty.
Returning to lifestyle media in 2017, she covered local arts, culture, and business news in Birmingham, Alabama, for *Bham Now* and later served as digital media manager for *Flower* magazine, a luxury home, garden, and lifestyle publication, before finding her home at *Country Living*. She and her husband live with their four [cats](https://www.countryliving.com/life/kids-pets/a66108412/potaroma-interactive-cat-toy/) in Birmingham. | ||||||||||||
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