What is St. Patrick’s Day? Traditions, Parades, and Celebrations
One Planet Journey’s Lisa Carroll is proud to guide you through an important part of her Irish heritage – St Patrick’s Day. Now a global phenomenon with large celebrations from Auckland to London and New York, this is your definitive resource to understand its history, traditions, and significance today. Lisa gives you all the practical info to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, on March 17th, in Ireland and major cities around the world, including parades, symbols, community engagement, useful Irish phrases, as well as traditional food and drink.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY – A GLOBAL PHENOMENON
Every March 17th, the world becomes engulfed in a sea of green and gold. Irish flags and shamrocks adorn almost everything in sight. Iconic landmarks dramatically illuminate in green, while people flood cities to participate in colourful parades and energetic parties to celebrate a small country in the North Atlantic.
Originally a religious feast commemorating Ireland’s famous patron saint, St. Patrick’s Day is now a global celebration synonymous with all things Irish. From Nigeria to Singapore to Munich, the worldwide popularity of St. Patrick’s Day signifies the far-reaching influence Ireland and Irish culture have had.
As an Irish person, I’m excited to introduce you to the unique meaning behind our national holiday and the saint who inspired it, along with tips and traditions for celebrating in Ireland or wherever you are. With around 70 million people who claim Irish heritage, March 17th is a day for everyone to celebrate their connection to Ireland. Whether you like being right in the middle of the action, or prefer a deeper, more traditional celebration, St Patrick’s Day is whatever you make it.
IS IT PATTY OR PADDY?
Before we start, I have to address one of the biggest questions surrounding St. Patrick’s Day: Is it Patty’s or Paddy’s Day? The answer: Paddy’s Day. This may seem counterintuitive, but as Gaeilge (in Irish), Patrick is Pádraig–where the “D” sound comes from. We Irish are fiercely proud of our native language, so deviate from Paddy’s Day at the risk of being corrected.
A FUSION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE AND CULTURAL PRIDE
St. Patrick’s Day is unique as it’s both a day of religious and cultural celebration. And pride. Although traditional practices like attending church services or spending time in deep reflection and gratitude aren’t as popular as before, Irish Catholic influences still shape the day. Even the festive nature of March 17th has religious roots, seen as a break in Lent where people could drink alcohol and eat foods not allowed during the fast.
This fusion didn’t happen by accident. While they’ve observed St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland since the 9th or 10th century, the celebration, as we know it, began in the US. On March 17th, 1762. Irish soldiers gathered in New York to march and play music. This gathering soon caught on with homesick expats.
For a long time, outward public expressions of Catholicism or Irish culture were illegal in Ireland, which has made St. Patrick’s Day all the more significant.
AN EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY
Ultimately, St. Patrick’s Day is about community. By tradition, acts of service and gathering with peers played an important part of the day. Now, overseas and in Ireland, local parades showcase children’s groups, sports teams, volunteers, and even members of emergency services.
THE STORY BEHIND ST. PATRICK – THE SAINT, THE MYTHS, THE LEGENDS
St. Patrick’s legend is a testament to the power of Irish storytelling. While we know a lot about his life, many stories surrounding Ireland’s national apostle are more myth than fact, used as metaphors for his influence on the country.
St. Patrick didn’t come from Ireland. Captors brought him to the island to tend sheep, which is why he’s often depicted holding a shepherd’s crook. The saint also receives credit for bringing Christianity to Ireland. This is partly true, but his importance comes from the fact that he embraced Celtic and pagan beliefs, allowing the Irish to convert while keeping their distinct culture.
SHAMROCK
The most famous symbol associated with the saint and Ireland is the shamrock. As the story goes, St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans, with the three leaves united by a stalk as a metaphor for how separate elements could be one.
CELTIC CROSS
St. Patrick also created another iconic Irish symbol, the Celtic cross. The circle behind it represents the sun or moon, essential aspects of paganism. Again, St. Patrick’s role in this is unconfirmed, but it’s an additional component of how the saint incorporated Irish culture into Christianity.
SNAKES
A towering figure of St. Patrick chasing dancing snakes is a common sight in parades because of the legend that he rid the island of the slithering animals. No evidence suggests snakes existed in Ireland, but the myth is a metaphor for the saint purifying the country of sin or paganism.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN IRELAND
There’s no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than Ireland. It’s a joyful expression of national and community pride, filled with great food, thumping music, and day-long parties. It’s also immersive, as Irish people want to share our history, culture, and traditions. In Ireland, you’re not a spectator; you become part of the experience.
FESTIVALS
In the days before St. Patrick’s Day, major Irish cities hold multi-day festivals celebrating traditional and contemporary Irish culture and history. From music, language, and dance classes to walking tours, comedy shows, and street performances, there’s nowhere else you can immerse yourself in such a full range of Irish culture in such a brief time span.
The best part? Most of these events are free to attend. They’re usually held throughout the cities and some surrounding areas, but check out each city’s festival website for complete programmes.
Most festival dates in Dublin and around Ireland, including Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Killarney, take place between the 13-17th of March.
PARADES
What’s St. Patrick’s Day without a parade? The Irish tradition has taken on a distinct identity as a showcase of our historical and cultural roots and our beautiful multiculturalism and diversity on the island.
In major cities, expect vibrant colours, theatrical reenactments of Irish myths, and marching bands playing with such rhythm you can feel your heart pounding along. You may also see regimented Irish dancers followed by the freedom of the samba. There’s always a surprise.
In the smaller towns and villages, parades are more locally focussed, highlighting people in their communities. These events are less flashy but give you a deeper insight into the sense of community that defines Irish culture.
For the most part, they take place in the early afternoon, but for exact times and routes, check out festival websites and local newspapers.
GETTING TO AND AROUND IRELAND
FLYING
Dublin, Knock, Shannon, and Cork are the four options for flying into Ireland. Dublin accepts most international flights, but it’s worth checking out the others as they can be cheaper to fly into.
FERRY
Direct ferries run from the UK, Spain, and France and are a great option for taking a car to explore more of our island.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Buses, trains, and the Luas (tram in Dublin) are the best ways to get into and around the major cities as roads will be busy, and many roads close during the festivals. Also expect limited parking spots.
WHERE TO STAY
Finding accommodation in the major cities can be difficult and expensive in the days before and after March 17th. You can find more affordable options in the surrounding areas or even further out in rural places. Buses likely run to and from the event; ask someone at the check-in desk.
TIPS FOR CELEBRATING IN IRELAND
Extend the Holiday: Plan your trip to start the days before March 17th to make the most of the festivities.
Planning: Get to any events or parades early and reserve tables at restaurants. The city gets very busy.
Accessibility: Check out the official festival websites for disability and mobility accommodations that can be pre-booked. Most festivals also have special areas for people with sensory issues, see the websites for details.
Clothes: Take a waterproof jacket, even if it looks sunny and dry. It’ll be difficult to move around with an umbrella, and the weather in Ireland changes on a whim.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY AROUND THE WORLD
Ireland has a long history of emigration, meaning Irish people have found their way into the culture and heritage of many countries, some of which are unexpected.
AUCKLAND
Because of its time zone, New Zealand is the first country to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish diaspora may be smaller than in neighbouring Australia. Still, there is a deep connection and respect between New Zealand and Ireland, making the Auckland festival the best choice in Oceania.
LONDON
As Ireland’s closest neighbour, the UK has a massive Irish diaspora. The epicentre of celebrations is London’s festival, which has a traditional parade, open-air music and cultural shows, and Irish craft and food stalls in Trafalgar Square.
NEW YORK
New York hosts over 150,000 participants, including marching bands, bagpipers, and cultural groups, who make their way up Fifth Avenue. There are around two million spectators lining the streets, draped in green and cheering on the procession.
BUENOS AIRES
Buenos Aires hosts South America’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration, with festivities and a parade largely taking place along Avenida de Mayo. Argentina has an exceptional connection as it was an Argentinian-born Irish man, Eamon Bulfin, who raised the rebellion flags over the GPO during the 1916 rising.
MONTSERRAT
Montserrat is the only other place where March 17th is a national holiday. It holds the longest festival, combining celebrating its unique Afro-Caribbean and Irish heritage with its struggle for freedom.
HOW TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY
There’s no set way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but I’ve included some traditions and ways to mark the day wherever you are.
WEAR GREEN
Wearing green is the most universal way of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. However, if this isn’t your colour, you can also wear dark blue, the original colour associated with Ireland and St. Patrick. Green became Ireland’s de facto national colour because of its political significance from the Irish independence movement.
EAT TRADITIONAL IRISH FOOD
Irish food is all about warming dishes that celebrate the best of our agriculture and sea. The dishes are deliciously simple, possible to make at home.
Boxty: A potato dish between a pancake and a hash brown that you can fry, boil, or steam. I suggest frying and eating it with smoked salmon.
Colcannon: Another side dish made by mixing mashed potatoes with cabbage and sometimes scallions and served with roasted or stewed meats.
Coddle: A type of stew where you boil sausages, bacon rashers, onions, potatoes, and herbs in a light broth. Popularised by James Joyce, it became synonymous with the Dublin working class, as traditionally it’s made from leftovers.
TRY GUINNESS
If there’s ever a day to try a pint of the “Black Stuff,” it’s March 17th. With its rich, deep-bodied taste with a hint of cream, Guinness is one of the most popular stouts in Ireland.
If you don’t consume alcohol but still want to sample Guinness, they make a non-alcoholic version called Guinness 0.0, which is remarkably similar in taste and consistency.
JOIN A CÉILÍ
A céilí is a traditional Irish community event of dancing, storytelling, and music. The dances are in groups and far less intimidating than the technical precision seen in Irish dance. Hence, it’s a fantastic place to get your feet wet and try Irish dancing.
SPEAK IRISH
Irish is a beautiful, poetic, complex language. It is seeing a revival in Ireland, so speaking a few words is a great way to honour Ireland and our heritage.
Sláinte (slaw-n-cha): A toast meaning health in Irish.
Go raibh maith agat (guh rev maw a-gut): Thank you.
Beannachtaí na Féile Padraig Ort (baa-knock-tay na fay-la paw-rick urt): A traditional St. Patrick’s Day greeting meaning blessing of the festival of Patrick upon you.
A DEEPER ST. PATRICK’S DAY EXPERIENCE
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates community, pride, and enduring Irish spirit. It’s more than parades and pints, it’s a deep dive into Ireland’s rich culture, history, and traditions. However and wherever you choose to honour the day, immerse yourself in local festivities. It provides a more meaningful way to experience this global phenomenon. I hope the legacy of St. Patrick and the profound resilience of Ireland will fill your day with joy.
Have you celebrated St Patrick’s Day? In what city? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to our newsletter and benefit from travel guides, sustainable tourism and luxury travel tips, insightful interviews, and inspirational places to visit. One Planet Journey – The World’s First Deep Travel Magazine.
