As a global celebration of Irish culture, St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 comes with many iconic traditions. From school spirit days to cultural parades all around the world, these are our top five St. Patrick’s Day traditions for a vibrant and memorable St. Patrick’s Day.
#5: Wearing a shamrock
This tradition of wearing a shamrock is both simple yet rich with cultural history, which earns it the last spot on our ranking. As the primary and most popular symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, the shamrock is a three-leaf clover that represents the Holy Trinity. Its origins date back to the 17th century, where shamrocks were often worn on a hat or lapel as a symbol of Irish identity, pride and faith. In modern days, the shamrock is worn by people of all backgrounds to celebrate Irish heritage.
#4: Eating traditional Irish food
Corned beef and cabbage are a St. Patrick’s Day staple. Although bacon and pork are more traditional, corned beef and cabbage were much cheaper and readily available to Irish immigrants in the 19th century. Despite its origins as a ‘poor man’s meal,’ corned beef and cabbage quickly became the foundation of Irish-American St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Mashed ‘mushy’ peas are also a popular side dish, although not as iconic.
#3: Parades
A city’s main St. Patrick’s Day parade typically spans from two to six hours on March 17 or the closest weekend if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekday. One of the world’s oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parades is in New York City. However, there are a few local parades as well, including two that occurred this past weekend: the South Boston Parade and the Worcester County Parade. These parades remain a popular way for people to celebrate Irish pride and honor St. Patrick’s Day with their communities.
#2: Chicago River dyeing
Every Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, the Chicago river is dyed a bright shade of light green. People from around the city and the world gather to watch the vibrant colors spread as boats drift down the bustling city. The Chicago River dyeing remains one of the best St. Patrick’s Day traditions for its unique visual appeal, spirit, large gatherings and extra thought for the environment. Although artificial looking, the dyeing is done using a vegetable-based powder launched from boats, which usually maintains the river’s green color for a few hours to several days.
#1: Wearing green
Wearing green is a well-known and simple way of expressing spirit and holiday energy during St. Patrick’s Day. Originally stemming from traditional Irish culture, folklore and Emerald Isle, the color green has remained a symbolic representation of St. Patrick’s Day. Tradition holds that green makes you invisible to leprechauns, and if you do not wear green you will be pinched. Whether it is celebrated as simply a school spirit day or wearing costumes at larger gatherings, wearing green continues to be the most popular St. Patrick’s Day tradition because it fosters a sense of community and is accessible to everyone.
