Introduction

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th and has become a widely recognized cultural holiday celebrating Irish culture. While many associate the day with parades, shamrocks, and indulgence, its origins are rooted in history and faith. It honors Saint Patrick’s contributions to Catholicism in Ireland and the culture of the Irish people. However, the holiday we know today has evolved significantly from its religious beginnings. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is not only associated with the color green, but is also widely known for its parades, shamrocks, food, music, dances, drinks, and essentially all things celebrating Irish culture. But have you ever wondered why we wear green on this day? Or, perhaps, who Saint Patrick truly was?

Who Was Saint Patrick?

One might assume that Saint Patrick would be Irish. Especially because he represents, well, an Irish holiday. But, no! Saint Patrick was actually born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century. Tragedy struck when he was a teenager: he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Celtic Ireland as a slave. There, he worked as a shepherd for six years and turned to Christianity. Eventually, Saint Patrick was able to escape back to Britain and return to his family. At this time, the Irish mostly practiced Druidism, a shamanic religion; its believers, referred to as ‘Druids,’ were considered magicians and wizards. However, fate had other things in store for young Patrick: he had a vision that compelled him to study priesthood. Believing it to be God’s call to return to Ireland as a missionary for Catholicism, Patrick studied in France and became a bishop. He willingly traveled back to the place where he had once been held captive and there, Saint Patrick converted over 100,000 Irish people to Catholicism. He did this despite facing a slew of obstacles—namely, hostility from Druidic leaders, betrayal from fellow church leaders, and more. Eventually, he was titled patron saint of Ireland.

The Origins of St. Patrick’s Day

The history of St. Patrick’s Day can be traced back to the 5th century, when Christianity began gaining roots in Ireland. The day was established to commemorate the anniversary of Ireland’s patron saint, this being the aforementioned Saint Patrick. His death is said to have occurred on March 17th, circa 461 AD due to natural causes. Over time, the day evolved into a day of both religious observance and feasting recognized by the Catholic Church to celebrate the saint’s role in Irish Christianity. Initially, the day involved formal religious observance, such as attending mass and attending prayer services. The connection to public holiday and festivities developed much later, when Irish communities grew worldwide and began immigrating to the United States.

So, Why Do We Wear Green?

The tradition of wearing green during St. Patrick’s Day originates from honoring Irish heritage and resilience, not the American myth about leprechauns pinching those who don’t wear it. In fact, the significance of green stems primarily from Irish nationalism, rather than any direct connection to St. Patrick himself. Historical representations of Ireland’s patron saint present him dressed in blue. This color fell out of favor with the Irish since it eventually became symbolic of English authority. In 1500, King Henry VIII bestowed a coat of arms with blue coloring upon Ireland and subsequently, England’s Order of St. Patrick adopted “St. Patrick’s blue” during the late 1700s.

The color green emerged as a symbol for resisting English oppression in Ireland. According to tradition, St. Patrick used the shamrock as an educational tool for Christian teachings; he used it to teach the Holy Trinity: each leaf represented the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Perhaps in part due to this, Irish rebels adopted the color green for their flags by the 1600s. During the late 18th century, green became the chosen color of the United Irishmen, who operated as an underground nationalist movement. English efforts to suppress the tradition failed because the street ballad The Wearin’ o’ The Green kept it alive.

Irish immigrants brought along this custom when they settled in the United States and other nations. The tradition of wearing green had become so common by the 1930s that President Franklin D. Roosevelt joined in the practice. 

Conclusion

While St. Patrick’s Day has become famous for parades and shamrocks, as well as the tradition of wearing green, its beginnings lie in historical events and religious practices, and the resilient spirit of the Irish people. The celebration started as a religious tribute to Ireland’s patron saint, but eventually evolved into an international celebration of Irish culture. The practice of wearing green transformed from its original symbolism of opposition to English domination into a demonstration of Irish national pride. The celebration of the holiday became the festive event we recognize today because Irish immigrants carried their traditions abroad to other countries, where they changed and evolved. St. Patrick’s Day continues to symbolize Ireland’s lasting spirit whether viewed as a cultural homage or simply a chance to wear green while celebrating with dance and drink.

Works Cited

Asmelash, Leah. “Saint Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, Wasn’t Actually Irish.” 17 Mar. 2022. CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/17/us/st-patricks-day-saint-british-cec/index.html.

Calorie Control Council. Shamrock-Three Leaf Clover, caloriecontrol.org/st-patricks-day-recipes/shamrock-three-leaf-clover/.

Delvaux, Bill. “The Real Story Behind St. Patrick's Day.” 13 Mar. 2023. Authentic Manhood, https://www.authenticmanhood.com/blog/the-real-story-behind-st-patricks-day/.

History.com Editors. “St. Patrick’s Day Traditions.” History, A&E Television Networks, 18 Feb. 2025, https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/st-patricks-day-symbols-and-traditions.

Kiger, Patrick. “Why We Wear Green on St. Patrick’s Day.” History, A&E Television Networks, 11 Mar. 2024, https://www.history.com/news/why-we-wear-green-on-st-patricks-day.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “St. Patrick’s Day.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day.