St. Patrick’s Day 2025 : Groundhog Day has passed, and Easter is fast approaching. In between, we have a holiday known for festive drinking and honoring a historic religious figure—St. Patrick’s Day.
Falling on Monday, March 17, this holiday celebrates all things Irish, including St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint.
Across the U.S., cities will mark the occasion with lively parades, traditional Irish cuisine, and themed bar crawls.
However, St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t always about partying. Here’s what you should know about this celebration of Irish heritage.
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick is recognized for bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century.
However, the man behind this Irish holiday wasn’t actually Irish. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave, according to the History Channel. After escaping captivity, Patrick eventually returned to Ireland.
Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17?
According to legend, St. Patrick passed away on March 17.
The tradition of observing a feast in his honor began in Ireland around the 9th or 10th century, as noted by the History Channel. However, the first parades celebrating St. Patrick’s Day actually originated in America.
The official New York City parade dates back to March 17, 1766, according to the Library of Congress.
St. Patrick’s Day was once a solemn religious holiday
Experts on Irish culture and heritage have previously told USA TODAY that St. Patrick’s Day was originally a solemn religious observance. However, its association with drinking grew as celebrations took off in the United States.
While not a federal holiday in the U.S., it is recognized as a bank holiday in Ireland and holds deep cultural significance. Irish leaders also use the occasion to strengthen international partnerships across various industries.
Irish people in America by the numbers
According to a news release from the U.S. Census Bureau, many Americans have a reason to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day.
- In 2023, 30.5 million U.S. residents identified as having Irish ancestry.
- According to 2023 data, Cook County, Illinois—home to Chicago—has the largest Irish-American population in the U.S., totaling 434,081 people.
- Additionally, 117,219 U.S. residents were born in Ireland as of 2023.
Leave a Reply