Original photo by Maria Shipakina/ Shutterstock
Every March 17, people all around the world come together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday that blends Irish heritage with lively modern traditions. What began as a solemn religious observance in Ireland has evolved into a widespread celebration noted for its parades, libations, and emerald green decorations. But St. Patrick’s Day goes far beyond shamrocks and Guinness. Whether you’re marking the day with corned beef and cabbage or simply by wearing your finest green attire, these intriguing facts will give you a whole new appreciation for the holiday.
It’s Celebrated Around the World
While we typically associate St. Patrick’s Day with Ireland, it’s also an official public holiday in several places with strong Irish ties. The Caribbean island of Montserrat, often called the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” due to its significant Irish heritage, observes March 17 as a public holiday. The occasion not only honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but also commemorates a failed 1768 uprising of enslaved people against colonial rule, blending the island’s Irish and African influences into one celebration.
In Canada, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador also recognizes St. Patrick’s Day as a public holiday, reflecting the deep-rooted presence of Irish immigrants who settled there in the late 18th century and 19th century. Meanwhile, the United States, despite hosting some of the largest and most elaborate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world, doesn’t recognize the event as an official federal holiday. In all these regions, the day isn’t just about parades and festivities; it’s also an opportunity to reflect on Irish history and the culture’s influence on other parts of the world.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Is an Irish American Invention
Corned beef and cabbage is widely considered the standard St. Patrick’s Day meal in the United States, but it’s not a traditional dish in Ireland. Irish immigrants in the U.S. in the 19th century and early 20th century created the meal as a more affordable alternative to Irish bacon (a leaner type of bacon made from the back of the pig rather than the belly), which was harder to find in America. They purchased corned beef from Jewish butchers, combined it with cabbage, and created a hearty dish that’s since become a holiday staple in the U.S.
In Ireland, however, St. Patrick’s Day meals look quite different. Traditional Irish celebrations often feature dishes such as lamb or beef stew, shepherd’s pie, and colcannon, a mix of mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale, and butter. Soda bread, a simple, dense Irish bread made with baking soda, is also popular in both the U.S. and Ireland.
Chicago Dyes Its River Green
Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with its own unique tradition: dyeing the Chicago River a brilliant shade of green. The tradition began in 1962 when city workers, looking for a way to detect pollution in the river, discovered that a particular dye turned the water a striking green. Inspired by the color’s strong association with Ireland, officials decided to begin using the dye to mark the holiday, and the tradition has continued ever since.
The formula used today is a closely guarded secret, but it’s said to be environmentally safe. And while the river maintains its green hue for just a few hours, the event draws thousands of spectators and has become one of the most famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world.
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Beer Sales Surge on St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for Guinness, Ireland’s most famous stout. Around 1.8 billion pints of the stuff are served worldwide each year, with an estimated 13 million pints served on St. Patrick’s Day alone. Cities including New York, Boston, and Chicago, all of which are home to large Irish American populations, report some of the highest Guinness sales, reinforcing the beer’s strong connection to the holiday.
But Guinness isn’t the only thing people imbibe on St. Patrick’s Day. Bars and pubs across the U.S. see a significant uptick in all beer sales — a jaw-dropping 174% — making the holiday one of the most profitable days for the industry.
St. Patrick’s Day Was a Solemn Occasion in Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t always associated with pints of beer and lively parades. Until the 1960s, Irish laws required pubs to close on March 17 as part of the holiday’s religious observances, reinforcing the day’s solemnity as a feast day honoring Ireland’s patron saint.
For much of Ireland’s history, St. Patrick’s Day (which was established in 1631) was primarily marked by attending church services and reflecting on the saint’s role in bringing Christianity to the island. It wasn’t until later in the 20th century that Ireland began embracing St. Patrick’s Day as a way to boost tourism. Nowadays, the country’s multiday St. Patrick’s Day festivals attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, highlighting Irish heritage through parades, concerts, and cultural events.
The Shamrock Was a Religious Symbol
The shamrock’s association with Ireland dates back to pre-Christian times, but it gained significant prominence through the legend of St. Patrick. According to legend, the saint used the three-leafed clover to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — while spreading Christianity in Ireland.
Though there’s no historical evidence to confirm this tale, the story became widely accepted, and the shamrock eventually evolved beyond religious significance to represent Ireland itself. Along with the harp, it’s even one of the country’s official state emblems.
St. Paddy’s Day Is the Only Correct Nickname
Knowing the origins of the name “Patrick” makes it easy to understand why “St. Paddy’s Day” is the only correct shorthand for the name of the holiday. The name “Patrick” can be traced to the Latin term “patricius,” meaning “nobleman,” which evolved into various Irish Gaelic forms, including “Pádraig” and “Padraic.”
“Paddy” is a casual, affectionate diminutive of these Irish Gaelic variations, in line with the Irish tradition of shortening names informally. While the moniker developed over time into “Patrick”in the English language, the nickname “Paddy” remained the same. In contrast, “St. Patty’s Day” is considered incorrect because “Patty” is a diminutive of “Patricia,” not Patrick.
Kristina is a coffee-fueled writer living happily ever after with her family in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia.
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