St.Patrick's Day Customs, Happy St. Patricks Day, Saint Patrick's Day History, St. Patricks Day Celebrations

st. patrick's day CUSTOMS

St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish festival honoring the Saint Patrick of Ireland. This day is celebrated worldwide especially by Irish people. Major St. Patrick’s Day parades are held around the world. The three largest parades now days are held in Dublin, New York and Birmingham England. The other places where parades are organized are London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and throughout America.

The most common customs associated with St. Patrick’s Day is wearing green, delighting in Irish folk music and food, and consuming large quantities of Irish beer, Irish coffee and Baileys Irish Cream.

In the United States St. Patrick's Day is marked by dying the Chicago River green. This tradition began in 1962 when they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river and kept the river green nearly for a week. This idea became such a large hit that it continues till date.

Another custom that has come into prevalence from 1990 is the Irish prime ministers attending special functions on the St. Patrick’s Day and presenting a shamrock to the President of the United States. A similar gesture is also made to the Speaker of the House.

The late Queen Elizabeth of Britain used to present bowls of Shamrock flown specially all the way from Ireland to members of the Irish guards. This was a regiment in the British Army consisting of Irish people from different parts of Ireland.

The other customs and traditions that have descended from different parts of the world and mark the festivities of the day are as under.

Shamrock leaves are worn on the shoulder on this day to remember St. Patrick.
People exchange Irish - Gaelic greetings.
Little girls wear green ribbons and the boys wear a harp badge.
Shillelaghs are displayed and used for decorations.
People attend mass in the morning and St. Patrick Day parades are held in the afternoon.
Men follow a quaint ritual of the 'Drowning of the Shamrock'. A Shamrock leaf is dipped in whiskey and thrown over the left shoulder.

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