St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
Credit: Bettmann
Erin go bragh! St Patrick’s Day, the annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, is here.
Every year, the people of Ireland celebrate their heritage and culture on St Patrick’s Day, with the day growing as a commercial occasion rather than a religious event in recent times.
While Ireland embraces its patron saint’s day by holding vibrant, green parades, wearing shamrocks and flying Irish flags more than usual, celebrations also take place in other countries around the world, including the UK and United States. However, some of the events have been cancelled for a second year running due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here is everything you need to know about St Patrick’s Day, from the patron saint himself to Irish recipes and worldwide celebrations.
When is St Patrick’s Day 2021?
St Patrick’s Day falls on March 17 each year. The Irish have celebrated St Patrick for more than 1,000 years, and Waterford Franciscan Luke Wadding, helped put the feast day on the Catholic Church calendar in the early 1600s.
The first public celebration of St Patrick’s Day is debated. While many argue that the first parade in the name of the saint was held in Boston, Massachussetts, in 1737, with New York holding the first "official" parade in 1762, historian Dr J Michael Francis has since pinpointed that the very first celebration was in St Augustine, Florida, in 1600.
Since these early events, the celebration of St Patrick has spread to Dublin and many US cities, and in recent years has grown in popularity elsewhere, including Europe and Asia.
Who was St Patrick?
St Patrick’s exact birthplace is unknown and debated. Born Maewyn Succat around the year of 385 AD in either England, Scotland or Wales, the patron saint was captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave.
Working as a shepherd, Patrick was held captive for six years and grew closer to spirituality and prayer during this period of isolation. After a "voice" told him it was time to leave Ireland, Patrick successfully fled his master and sailed back to Britain to continue studying Christianity.
Shortly afterwards, an angel appeared to Patrick in a dream and told him to go back to Ireland as a missionary. But first he decided to travel to Gaul, to study religious instruction under Germanus, bishop of Auxerre.
He returned to Ireland as the country’s second bishop and began his mission to spread the Christian message to those who had never heard it. He converted thousands of people to Christianity and established councils, churches, schools and monasteries across the country.
Legend suggests that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock on his mission to explain the Holy Trinity, teaching his followers that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit exist as individual elements of the combined entity. While some experts claim this story was invented centuries later, the tale has led to the common practice of people wearing the symbol on the feast day.
Patrick is also believed to have banished snakes from Ireland to help remove the evil and introduce a new age. But experts say this is a myth because of evidence that snakes never existed in the country in the first place.
Around 431 AD, Patrick was appointed as successor to St Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland, and during his later years, he wrote about his spirituality and life in his "Confession".
Believed to have died on March 17, in 461 AD, Patrick’s spiritual path led him to become a legendary figure, as he left behind an established church and an island of Christians. Today, his work is commemorated annually on March 17.
Symbols and images associated with Ireland and St Patrick’s Day
The national flag of Ireland, also known as the Irish tricolour, is a prominent symbol in St Patrick’s Day parades, events and celebrations. The green stripe stands for Irish Catholics, while the orange stripe represents Irish Protestants. The central white stripe also represents the hope for peace between the two groups.
The patron saint of Ireland is traditionally linked to the red Saltire of St Patrick, which was used to form the the flag of the United Kingdom.
St Patrick is also associated with the colour blue, after the creation of the Order of St Patrick in the 1780s made it the official colour. "St Patrick’s Blue" can be found on Ireland’s Presidential Standard, and in the plume of bearskins worn by the Irish Guards.
The legend of the leprechaun has also become a modern-day symbol of Ireland. Known for their mischievous behaviour and for leaving pots of gold at the end of rainbows, today, the mythical creatures feature heavily as a tourist symbol and some people choose to wear leprechaun costumes and hats to St Patrick’s Day parades. Dublin even has its very own Leprechaun Museum.
St Patricks Day 2021, in pictures
St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ireland
Unlike St David’s Day in Wales and St George’s Day in England, St Patrick’s Day is a bank holiday in Ireland, allowing the Irish to fully embrace the festivities.
The people of Ireland honour their patron saint day every year by joining parades and dressing head to toe in green, white and orange, the colours of the Irish flag. Dublin’s famous St Patrick’s Parade usually starts at Parnell Square, and often features bands from around the world. However, festival organisers have confirmed that the parade will not be going ahead for the second year in a row, amid coronavirus concerns.
Historically called the "Feast of St Patrick", it would traditionally begin with families attending church in the morning, before celebrating with dance, drink and a feast of bacon and cabbage. Today, Irish stews and pints of Guinness are often enjoyed as part of the celebration.
As many as 13 million pints of Guinness are poured on St Patrick’s Day alone, increasing from the average 10 million glasses poured every day around the world. The Guinness Storehouse is situated in the heart of St James’s Gate, Dublin, with visitors able to book a tour of the famous site.
Popular Irish toasts on St Patrick’s Day, include: "Sláinte mhaith", meaning "good health" in Irish Gaelic, and "may the good St Patrick protect ye, and the devil neglect ye".
Other celebrations around the world
Even those without Irish connections turn out to celebrate St Patrick. From Oslo, Norway, to Sydney, Australia, a range of parades are often held across the globe to celebrate the legendary Irish figure, although many of this year’s events could be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Every year, London showcases Irish heritage and culture as part of its annual St Patrick’s Day festival and parade. While live stage performances and food stalls can be enjoyed in Trafalgar Square, colourful floats, dancers and Irish communities make their way through the capital’s streets. This year, in line with the latest Covid-19 restrictions, the Mayor of London and London Irish Centre will be hosting a virtual event on March 17 instead of the usual festivities. The evening event, which will feature Q&As with celebrities and performances from special guests, will be live streamed and offer viewers the chance to experience and connect with Irish culture.
In the United States, the White House first recognised the Irish holiday and the countries’ relations more than 60 years ago, after President Harry Truman received a box of shamrocks from Ireland’s ambassador. In 1956, the first St Patrick’s Day meeting between the President and the Irish Taoiseach took place, and since the 1990s, the White House visit has been held annually. The 2020 ceremony, however, did not go ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this year, Taoiseach Michael Martin has said that he will celebrate the event with President Joe Biden virtually.
Former Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presenting US President Donald Trump, with a bowl of shamrocks during the 2019 St Patrick's Day ceremony at the White House
Credit: Brian Lawless/PA
In Tokyo, the "I Love Ireland" festival takes place over two days, with vibrant costumes and marching bands, while in New York, 150,000 people join the parade travelling up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. But, organisers are preparing to scale back this year’s New York parade, due to the ongoing threat of Covid-19.
In the Caribbean, the island of Montserrat has a public holiday for St Patrick’s Day and observes the patron saint with a 10 day festival and parade. Dubbed the "Emerald Isle" in memory of their Irish settlers, Montserrat even use a green shamrock as their official passport stamp.
St Patrick’s Day is also a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, where a significant number of Irish people emigrated to during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In Chicago, the river has been traditionally dyed bright green on March 17 since 1962, with thousands heading to the city to see one of the most famous St Patrick’s Day sights. However, like many of last year’s events, the tradition was cancelled. This year, the river has been dyed bright green once again, but Chicago’s St Patrick’s Day parades will not take place for a second year in a row.
The Chicago River, as it flows through downtown, after it was dyed green in celebration of St Patrick's Day on March 13, 2021
Over the years, other famous landmarks around the world have turned green on March 17, including the London Eye and Nelson’s Column in London, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, Sydney Opera House in Australia and Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
The best Irish recipes
Diana Henry’s baked Galway cod and mussels
A luxurious dish of cod, mussels and potatoes in a white wine and cream sauce.
Clodagh McKenna’s beef and Guinness pie with chocolate
Beautifully tender beef, cooked with Guinness and chocolate, for a silky smooth filling. Serve with colcannon or champ for the ultimate St Patrick’s Day feast.
Darina Allen’s Ballymaloe brown yeast bread
A dish that has been made every day at Ballymaloe House for the last 60 years.
Clodagh McKenna’s slow-cooked red cabbage with apples and raisins
Traditionally served with beef, pork or turkey, red cabbage brings a sweet flavour to any dish and can also be eaten cold in sandwiches.
Diana Henry’s flourless chocolate cake with Irish-coffee cream
A boozy gluten-free dessert, perfect for a dinner party.
Read more: The best Irish recipes to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
The best Irish drinks
While Ireland is the place to be for a pint of Guinness, it is also home to an array of famous alcoholic beverages including Jameson whiskey and Irish cream liqueur.
If Guinness doesn’t take your fancy, the Thinking Drinkers have selected the best alternatives to drink on St Patrick’s Day, from craft whiskey to post poitin.
Read more: Exceptionally collectible Irish whiskies to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
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