St. Patrick's Day is celebrated every year on March 17 in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. It was originally a Roman Catholic holiday and was only celebrated in Ireland until Irish immigrants brought the holiday to the United States. Here are the main elements of the holiday and the various ways it is celebrated.
The shamrock is a species of clover plant that is associated with St. Patrick because the latter used it as a symbol of the Christian Trinity. Today it has become a symbol of Irish culture, and on St. Patrick's Day you will see shamrocks everywhere: on T-shirts, on jewelry, on pins, etc.. It has become the most well-known symbol of St. Patrick's Day.
The ancient Celts of Ireland have long considered the number 3 to be significant. It was considered to be the "perfect number". The Celts worshipped many triple gods, i.e., gods or goddesses who appeared in three forms.
You may have heard Ireland referred to as the Emerald Isle. This is because Ireland is full of lush green landscapes. The Irish flag also features the color green.
Each color in the Irish flag has a symbolic meaning. The green on the flag represents Irish Catholics, the orange represents Irish Protestants, and the white represents the hope for peace and unity between the two countries.
The easiest way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day is to wear green. It is the color of spring, the color of the shamrock, and one of the colors on the Irish flag. Wearing green socks, a green tie or a green hair tie is also a great way to show the spirit of St. Patrick's Day.
If dressing up isn't your thing, you can still celebrate St. Patrick's Day by sampling delicious Irish cuisine. Irish food is usually very hearty and delicious, and this holiday is a great opportunity for you to taste it for yourself. Check out some of the restaurants near you to see if they offer these items on their St. Patrick's Day menus: Corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd's Pie, and Irish Soda Bread.
In addition to all the popular St. Patrick's Day foods, it is a very common way for Americans to celebrate by adding green food dyes to their everyday foods. Cookies, cakes, breads and even sauces will be dyed green by some people.
Leprechauns are one of the symbols of St. Patrick's Day and can be traced back to Irish folklore and the Celtic belief in fairy spirits.
In Irish folklore, leprechauns are depicted as lonely, small, mischievous and grumpy spirits with magical powers. They are known for being the shoemakers of the fairy tale world.
Throughout history, the occupations, heights and personalities of leprechauns have remained consistent, with only slight variations in their costumes. While we think of leprechauns as wearing green today, early references to them wear red. Modern leprechauns are depicted wearing green coats, large bowler hats and shoes with buckles. Want to include leprechauns in your holiday celebrations this year? Visit our website and find your favorite decorations!
On St. Patrick's Day, there are very big celebrations and parades. Most cities hold St. Patrick's Day parades with a variety of music, dancing and fun costumes. New York is home to the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world, and the parade will last for nearly six hours!
Another popular place to celebrate the holiday is Chicago, where festivities include as well as the dyeing of the Chicago River emerald green.
Contact NANSHEN for unique holiday decorations!
