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[Stream HISTORY](https://play.history.com/) [Try](https://www.historyvault.com/?cmpid=HV_O_Site_H_CTA_TryHISTORYVault) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement # 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. ## Featured Overview  [The History of St. Patrick's Day Distinguish St. Patrick's Day myths from reality and find out why this holiday is celebrated by millions of Irish people around the world. 3:17m watch](https://www.history.com/videos/the-history-of-st-patricks-day)  Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images. ## Featured Overview  [The History of St. Patrick's Day Distinguish St. Patrick's Day myths from reality and find out why this holiday is celebrated by millions of Irish people around the world. 3:17m watch](https://www.history.com/videos/the-history-of-st-patricks-day) ## Start Here  [History of St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-st-patricks-day) The celebration of Irish culture takes place annually on March 17. Learn about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day in this article.  [Why St. Patrick Was Never Actually Canonized](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patrick-patron-saint-of) St. Patrick is not a canonized saint, despite his well-known honorific. Still, he is known as the patron saint of Ireland and Nigeria.  [How St. Patrick’s Day Took on New Life in America](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-origins-america) Despite the holiday’s Irish origins, many St. Patrick’s Day traditions were born in the United States. Learn why we celebrate in America.  [Why St. Patrick’s Day Also Honors Cats](https://www.history.com/articles/march-17-saint-gertrude-cats) March 17 has taken on new meaning for cat lovers, who honor the church’s unofficial patron saint of felines: St. Gertrude of Nivelles.  ## 3 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day [ 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.](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-facts) [ 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.](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-facts) [ 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.](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-facts) ## 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. 1:00m watch Settings Quality Playback speed Quality Playback speed ## Explore All Related Topics All Articles Videos St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day Traditions St. Patrick Christianity  [What Is the Spiritual Meaning of St. Patrick’s Day?](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-spiritual-meaning) The spiritual meaning of St. Patrick’s Day dates back to the Middle Ages. The holiday largely emphasizes Irish culture today.  [Did St. Patrick Really Drive the Snakes Out of Ireland?](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patrick-snakes) St. Patrick is said to have chased snakes out of Ireland, but in truth, he might never have seen one there.  [History of St. Patrick’s Day Parades Around the World](https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-st-patricks-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.  [Why We Wear Green on St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/why-we-wear-green-on-st-patricks-day) The color is an homage to leprechauns and Irish defiance. Advertisement  [Who Was St. Patrick?](https://www.history.com/articles/who-was-saint-patrick) St. Patrick is credited with spreading Christianity in Ireland. Learn about who he was, where he was born and the holiday honoring him.  [How St. Patrick’s Day Took on New Life in America](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-origins-america) Despite the holiday’s Irish origins, many St. Patrick’s Day traditions were born in the United States. Learn why we celebrate in America.  [St. Patrick’s Day Traditions](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-symbols-and-traditions) St. Patrick’s Day is known for shamrocks, corned beef and music. Learn more about famous Irish and American traditions and symbols.  [History of St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-st-patricks-day) The celebration of Irish culture takes place annually on March 17. Learn about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day in this article. Advertisement Advertisement  [8 St. Patrick’s Day Myths and Legends Debunked](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-myths-debunked) There are many myths about St. Patrick’s Day, including that Ireland’s patron saint was not truly Irish nor did he rid the nation of snakes.  [9 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-facts) The March 17 holiday is steeped in myths. These St. Patrick’s Day facts share the fun, surprising truth about the celebration.  [5 Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Foods](https://www.history.com/articles/traditional-food-st-patricks-day) Traditional food on St. Patrick’s Day includes bacon—not corned beef—as well as Irish classics like shepherd’s pie and Irish stew.  [St. Patrick: Kidnapped by Pirates and Enslaved at 16](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patrick-slavery-pirate-kidnapping-real-facts) The patron saint of Ireland first arrived in Ireland in the hold of a slave ship. Advertisement  [Is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated in Ireland?](https://www.history.com/articles/is-st-patricks-day-celebrated-in-ireland) St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was traditionally a more solemn occasion—until Americans got involved.  [Why St. Patrick Was Never Actually Canonized](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patrick-patron-saint-of) St. Patrick is not a canonized saint, despite his well-known honorific. Still, he is known as the patron saint of Ireland and Nigeria.  [St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day) ### St. Patrick's Day and the American Revolution St. Patrick's Day in 1776 was more than just an Irish-American celebration... it was also a step towards freedom. 0:57m watch  [St. Patrick's Day in 1776 Marked a Step Towards American Independence](https://www.history.com/articles/boston-st-patricks-day-evacuation-day) The British retreated from Boston on March 17, 1776, in the first major Patriot victory of the American Revolution. 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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. Featured Overview   Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images. Featured Overview  Start Here  [History of St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-st-patricks-day) The celebration of Irish culture takes place annually on March 17. Learn about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day in this article.    3 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day 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. 1:00m watch Explore All Related Topics St. Patrick’s Day      [Who Was St. Patrick?](https://www.history.com/articles/who-was-saint-patrick) St. Patrick is credited with spreading Christianity in Ireland. Learn about who he was, where he was born and the holiday honoring him.   [St. Patrick’s Day Traditions](https://www.history.com/articles/st-patricks-day-symbols-and-traditions) St. Patrick’s Day is known for shamrocks, corned beef and music. Learn more about famous Irish and American traditions and symbols.  [History of St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-st-patricks-day) The celebration of Irish culture takes place annually on March 17. Learn about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day in this article.        [St. Patrick’s Day](https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day) ### St. Patrick's Day and the American Revolution St. Patrick's Day in 1776 was more than just an Irish-American celebration... it was also a step towards freedom. 0:57m watch