Every year on March 17th, people around the world celebrate Irish culture and heritage with various styles of drink, parades, wearing green to avoid pinching, and in some cases, dying a river green to celebrate St. Patrick’s day!
St. Patrick’s day originated on March 17th, 1631 when the church established a day of feasting honoring Saint Patrick, who was one of the island’s patron saints. The holiday continues to be celebrated on March 17th as it is the day Saint Patrick died on.
In the United States, the holiday was popularized by Irish Immigrants who believed the wearing green made them invisible to leprechauns. Parades and feasts were popular in celebrating this holiday.
The color green is popular with St. Patrick’s day because it is believed that those wearing green are invisible to leprechauns. Leprechauns are mythical, fairy-like creatures from Irish folklore. While they are most known for hiding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, they are most known for being naughty creatures and playing tricks on unexpecting humans. It is said that those not wearing green on st. Patrick’s day will get pinched by the leprechaun!
Today, Americans have continued to celebrate this holiday with newer, more modern traditions. St. Patrick’s day is now celebrated in over 100 cities across the country, with the most famous being in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate Irish Heritage, and grand parades take place as well.
The Empire State Building in New York also takes on lights of green, white, and orange to honor the Irish Saint. This building also changes colors for various sporting events, holidays, and other special occasions throughout the year. In Sydney, Australia, the Sydney Opera House is also illuminated green to honor Irish heritage.
In 2013, Egypt’s greatest Landmarks, the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, were illuminated green for St. Patrick’s Day for the first time. This tradition is still continued today.
In the United Kingdom, “The London Eye”, also known as the Millennium Wheel, which is London’s tallest fairest wheel, is lit green with lights on the night of March 17th every year.
In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of the Corcovado Mountain also takes on a green coloring for St. Patrick’s Day.
On the other side of the world in Paris, France, the Sacré Coeur Basilica Roman Catholic Church, which is located near France’s Highest Point, is also illuminated green. This church was built over more than 40 years,
Similar to the Chicago River, the Vilina river (located in Vilnius, Lithuania) is also dyed green for St. Patrick’s day. The Vinila river is one of the largest rivers in Lithuania and runs through the Lithuanian capital.
In American Savannah, Georgia’s St. Patrick’s day traditions also included the “Greening of the Fountain ”, when citizens turn the main fountain in Forsyth park green. There is a similar tradition in the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC, where the fountain takes a green due for st. Patrick’s day as well.
No matter how st. Patrick’s day is celebrated in your country, the tradition remains the same. Saint Patrick’s day will always be a fun holiday celebrating the Irish, no matter how strange the celebrations may grow. So, this March 17th, remember to wear green!
