Chicago River dyed green with crowds lining the banks for St. Patrick's Day celebration near Trump Tower Chicago
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 17: Members of the plumbers' union dye the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day on March 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The River was first dyed green in 1962 and has become a St. Patrick's Day tradition in Chicago. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

The Internet Shares Glimpses Into Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations Worldwide

Summary:

  • Saint Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish culture and the death of Saint Patrick, known for converting Ireland to Christianity.

  • Major U.S. cities like Chicago, New York City, and Boston hold unique celebrations for the holiday.

  • Irish traditions, parades, and tributes to Irish actors and musicians mark the day around the world.

Saint Patrick’s Day began as a national holiday in Ireland in approximately the 10th Century, and March 17 is believed to be the date that Saint Patrick died. Saint Patrick is a historical figure who played an important role across several sects in Christianity, but notably in Anglicanism, Catholicism, and Lutheranism. The saying goes that Patrick “drove the snakes out of Ireland”, meaning that he converted the locals to Christianity. In contemporary times, the holiday is primarily viewed as a celebration of Irish culture worldwide, and less of a religious event.

Several major cities in the U.S. became home to large populations of Irish immigrants as early as the late 1700s. These are notably Chicago, New York City, and Boston. Each city has their own unique traditions to commemorate the holiday, and the contributions of the Irish community. The Chicago River is dyed green every year to celebrate the day. Green has long been associated with the holiday due to the color’s presence in Ireland’s national flag, and the lush green landscape of the country.

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Boston and New York City each hold parades throughout the respective cities. Additionally, Boston’s iconic “Make Way For Ducklings” statues in the Public Garden are decorated in costumes according to each holiday, and today they were adorned in shamrocks. The statues were created in honor of Irish-American author Robert McCloskey’s children’s book of the same name, which is set in Boston.

The Boston Catholic archdiocese even confirmed that Catholics in the city can break their Lent fasting to eat traditional Corned Beef and cabbage today.

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Back in the motherland, Irish locals honor centuries old traditions. The first parade in Ireland held in Saint Patrick’s honor allegedly dates back to Dingle in the 1880s, when locals protested the British monarchy’s curfew restrictions.

Fans of Irish actors and musicians have posted tributes to them in honor of the holiday. Most recently, actor Colin Farrell was nominated for Best Actor at the 2023 Academy Awards for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin. The movie is set in a fictional rural Irish community amid the Irish Civil War. Additionally, fellow Irishman Paul Mescal received a nomination for Best Actor as well, for his role in A24’s Aftersun.

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The U.S. White House shared throwback photos from the annual celebration on their official Twitter account today. Current U.S. President Joe Biden is Irish-American himself, and former President Barack Obama discovered that he has partial Irish ancestry in recent years as well.

Others shared creative Saint Patrick’s Day inspired treats, from cookies to charcuterie boards.

More traditional Irish recipes like Irish soda bread and corned beef and cabbage were also shared across Twitter today. Even famous television personality and chef Gordon Ramsay shared a tutorial on his favorite recipe today.

This Saint Patrick’s Day is marked with countless different traditions, old and new. One old Irish Blessing states, “May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night.” The holiday is a reminder that everyone’s lucky pot of gold is different, and may even be closer than they think.

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Madison E. Goldberg

Madison is a New York born and New Jersey raised journalist, who received her B.S. in Journalism and double minors in publishing and photography from Emerson College. Her work as a multimedia journalist has previously been featured in The Boston Globe, AfterBuzz TV, and Billboard. When she isn’t delivering the latest news on entertainment and cultural trends, you can find her outdoors with a camera, checking out new local music, or listening to Taylor Swift.

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