Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, is the Irish national holiday celebrating Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Internationally, it has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture wherever Irish diaspora communities exist.
Saint Patrick (385-461 CE) is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. The date marks his death. The first Saint Patrick's Day parade was held in Boston in 1737 by Irish soldiers serving in the British Army. New York's parade since 1762 became the largest annual parade in the United States.
Green clothing ("the wearing of the green"). Parades — New York, Boston, Chicago (river dyed green), Dublin, Sydney. Shamrocks. Irish music, dancing, and pubs.
Corned beef and cabbage (popularized by Irish-Americans). Irish stew. Soda bread. Guinness. Irish whiskey.
"Happy St. Paddy's Day!" · "Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit"
Public holiday in Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Major parades draw tourists; book Dublin hotels months ahead. In the US, large parades in NYC, Boston, Chicago, Savannah.
Future dates for moving holidays (Easter, Eid, Lunar New Year, Diwali, etc.) are computed and approximate; the actual public-holiday date in some countries is fixed by official decree closer to the date.
This holiday is also publicly observed in: