Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Irish-Americans have contributed much to the United States, and St. Patrick’s Day, to a large extent, is about celebrating that. St. Patrick’s Day is also about celebrating the culture from which Irish-Americans come. While St. Patrick’s Day’s history may be a bit complex, it has affiliations with the Catholic Church and is also recognized as one of the biggest nights of the year to go out to the local pubs and taverns. In the U.S., you’ll find that Saint Patrick’s Day is just a big party.

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1. What is St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day is an extremely popular United States holiday. It combines a celebration of Irish culture with a great excuse to get out, let loose, and have some fun. It has been celebrated since the eighteenth century, making it one of the most enduring holidays in the United States.

St. Patrick’s Day’s meaning in the United States is largely cultural, considering the significance of Irish Americans in U.S. history. St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the Irish culture and just a day to enjoy oneself (while dressed in green, of course).

Continue reading to learn even more about Saint Patrick’s Day and its unique traditions.

2. When is St. Patrick’s Day?

What day is St. Patrick’s Day? Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17. You can find a little more information on why this date is significant in the Additional Information section.

3. How is Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrated?

If you want to see a big St. Patrick’s Day parade, New York is the place to be. Every year since 1762, this parade has been put on, and it’s one of the country’s most vibrant, vivacious, and largest celebrations. There are parades held across the nation, and most of them date back to the nineteenth century or earlier. St. Patrick’s Day parades see a large attendance each year.

Green, the color most associated with Ireland, is a huge part of St. Patrick’s Day. Americans typically try to sport something green on St. Patrick’s Day to show their support for the Irish-American community and their acknowledgment of the importance of the day. One popular American tradition is to pinch anybody who fails to wear green on this holiday. In some cities, rivers and fountains are dyed green temporarily to celebrate this special day for Irish-Americans.

4. Additional Information

In 1780, George Washington gave March 17th to his troops as a day to celebrate the Irish fight for independence. He considered this an act of solidarity with the Irish people, of whom made up a large number in his army.

5. Must-know Vocab

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for St. Patrick’s Day!

• Guinness — A popular dry stout Irish alcoholic beverage.
• Irish Americans — People whose families came from Ireland to live in America.
• St. Patrick’s Day — A day observed by the Irish to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland.
• St. Patrick’s Day parade — A parade that takes place in America on St. Patrick’s Day.
• Pinch — To squeeze or compress between the finger and thumb.
• Leprechaun — Mythical, elf-like person from Ireland.

To hear these words pronounced, you can check out our St. Patrick’s Day vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio of its pronunciation, as well as a video about the holiday.

Conclusion

Now you know all about Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States! What do you think of this holiday? Is there a similar holiday in your own country? Let us know in the comments!

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Know that your hard work will prove worth it, and you’ll be speaking English like a native before you know it! For now, we’ll wish you a happy St. Patrick’s Day!