St. Patrick’s Day is observed annually on March 17, which this year falls on a Monday. As it is the date of the feast day of the Catholic Saint Patrick, who was known for his role as a missionary traveling Ireland in the fifth century, the holiday is a more serious occasion in its native Ireland, but in the United States, it is a lighthearted celebration of Irish-American culture brought to the country by early Irish migrants. Check out our previous articles on St. Patrick’s Day to learn more about the holiday’s history and common practices.
The shamrock (not to be confused with the four-leaf clover; it only has three leaves) has become one of the biggest symbols of St. Patrick’s Day right alongside leprechauns and pots of gold, seen in decorations, clothes, and accessories everywhere on the big day. This connection allegedly goes all the way back to the time of Saint Patrick, who was said to have used a shamrock in his attempts to convert people to Christianity, pointing out the three leaves of the shamrock to demonstrate the religion’s concept of the Holy Trinity: three forms of God in one being.
However, not only does this story not appear in Christian lore until the seventeenth century, long after Patrick’s death, but the Irish pagans he would have been preaching to already had this concept in their own faiths, so this part of the saint’s legend is likely not true. The shamrock is also a national symbol of Ireland itself, and according to historians, observers would adorn themselves with the plant to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Upon migrating to the United States, where shamrocks don’t widely grow, they made do with the color green and images of the plant instead in their celebrations.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade is among New York City’s most beloved annual traditions. Check out the parade website here for information on the parade route, participants, and how to grab the best spot to watch. While the streets on and around the parade route will be closed and crowded, so expect heavy traffic in the area, St. Patrick’s Day is not a federal holiday, so you can expect schools, businesses, government buildings, and banks to be operating on normal hours.
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