Getting Lucky Around the World

March 17th is St. Patrick’s day which means that hundreds of thousands of people will be dressing in all green to celebrate this Irish holiday. However, the classic celebration of St. Patrick's day as we know it was actually started in America and has spread around the globe.

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

History 

St. Patrick was a British-born Patron saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. After his death, mythology about his life began to develop, later leading to the celebration of his life as a religious ceremony. Historically, Irish families would go to church on St. Patrick’s day and later have a feast to celebrate.  The first St. Patrick’s parade recorded was organized by an Irish man living in America in 1601. More than a hundred years later, it was made into a tradition by homesick Irish soldiers in Boston and New York City. It soon developed into a way for Irish Americans to show their strength and power as immigrants to America. 

St. Patrick’s day is celebrated in different ways around the world. From the United States to Argentina to Ireland and Japan, March 17th is a day of parties and parades. 

United States

In the United States, St. Patrick's day is not a national holiday, but that doesn’t stop people from going all out to celebrate. The largest celebrations are in big cities like New York, Boston and Chicago. New York City’s St. Patrick’s parade is the biggest in the world, with around 150,000 people participating each year and over 2 million onlookers. The parade features Irish dancers, bagpipers and tons of other fun shows. Boston has an equally impressive celebration. As one of the first cities to celebrate the day, their Irish pride runs deep. Almost a million people gather to celebrate and the festivities include parades, concerts, and of course spending time at the local Irish bars and pubs. Last, Chicago takes St. Patrick’s day very seriously by dyeing the Chicago River green. On the Saturday following the 17th, the festivities commence. With huge parades and live music, Chicago takes the day to a new level. 

Argentina 

Surprisingly, Argentina takes this day very seriously, too. Buenos Aires, Argentina is home to the largest St. Patrick’s day parade in South America. The streets of Argentina’s capital city are filled with people dressed in costumes, all-dancing, playing music and celebrating. Locals and visitors flood the Irish bars, enjoying Irish drinks and traditional Irish food such as beef stew, Soda Bread and Shepherd’s Pie. Argentina’s celebration is one of the largest in the world and is organized by the Argentina-Ireland Association and the Irish Embassy in Buenos Aires. The festivities spread pride for the Irish-Argentine community, who originate from the wave of immigrants that arrived in the country between 1830 to 1930. Argentina is home to the fifth largest Irish community in the world, which is why March 17th is a celebration of heritage and culture. 

Ireland

Of course, Ireland doesn’t miss out on this lucky holiday. Historically, Ireland hasn’t celebrated St. Patrick’s day in the same way that other countries have. It was first celebrated as a religious event with a feast in the evening. However, these days, there are festivities in every part of the country. In Belfast, the day is celebrated with a carnival, live music and dancing that goes well into the night. In Dublin, the celebration is actually spread out over 5 days and there is even a “Shamrock 5k” race. And, in Galway, they are celebrating their first celebration in 3 years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, it is shaping up to be the biggest St. Patrick’s day celebration the city has ever seen. 

Japan

St. Patrick’s day has been celebrated in Tokyo, Japan since 1992, and the parades and parties are a mixture of Japanese and Irish culture. Japan hosts 15 festivals each year, spreading Irish pride throughout the country. The tradition was started by the Irish Network Japan and the Irish Embassy to spread cultural awareness in the country. 

These four countries are just a few examples of how this fun Irish holiday has spread throughout the world. This Thursday, chances are, no matter where you’re staying, there will be a St. Patrick’s parade nearby. So throw on your green outfit and your shamrock accessories and don't forget to tag @theedgemag in your St. Patty’s best.

Make sure to tag us here @theedgemag in your St. Patrick’s Day celebration pictures!