HomeShowsThis Day In History
Stream HISTORY
HomeShowsThis Day In HistoryStream HISTORY
  1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. St. Patrick’s Day
  4. Topics

St. Patrick’s Day ‑ Topics

St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.

TV-14

Deconstructing History: Ireland

From Ireland’s national symbol to its average beer consumption, get the facts on the Emerald Isle.

Watch now
A marching band participates in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along 5th Ave. on March 17, 2018 in New York City. New York's Saint Patrick's Day parade is the largest in the world.

History of St. Patrick’s Day Parades Around the World

New York City and the First St. Patrick’s Day Parade One of the earliest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America took place in Boston in 1737, when a group of Irish Protestants gathered to honor their homeland’s saint, a 5th century Christian missionary who died on March 17, 493, according to some claims. In the […]

Read more
2:03 minTV-PG

Who Was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, but was he really Irish? Get the answer now.

Watch now
1:19 minTV-PG

Are Leprechauns Real?

The mythological beings known as “leprechauns” have appeared for centuries in Irish folklore. The pot of gold didn’t come until much later.

Watch now
3:17 minTV-G

The History of St. Patrick’s Day

Distinguish St. Patrick’s Day myths from reality and find out why this holiday is celebrated by millions of Irish people around the world.

Watch now
1:07 minTV-PG

Why Wear Green on St. Patrick’s Day?

Green was not the first color associated with St. Patrick, so just how did green come to represent the holiday?

Watch now
2:01 minTV-PG

History of St Patrick’s Day Parades Around the World

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue is a New York City tradition, but did you know the first one was held even before the Declaration of Independence was signed?

Watch now
0:53 secTV-PG

Are Shamrocks Really Lucky?

Why are shamrocks associated with St. Patrick’s Day? The real history of this little green plant is steeped in religion, heritage, and Irish national pride.

Watch now
1:00 minTV-PG

Who Was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick converted the Irish to Christianity, but there’s more to know about Ireland’s patron saint – like the fact that he wasn’t Irish.

Watch now
A group of Irish dancers perform during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago on March 11, 2000.

History of St. Patrick’s Day

Who Was St. Patrick? Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In […]

Read more

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. Find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick’s Day came to be.

Read more
St. Patrick's Day parade in Moscow

St. Patrick’s Day Facts

When is St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick’s Day takes place each year on March 17, the traditional religious feast day of Saint Patrick. St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dish. In 2009, roughly 26.1 billion pounds of beef and 2.3 billion pounds of cabbage were produced in […]

Read more
A+E Global Media Logo
  • HISTORY Education
  • HISTORY Vault®
  • HISTORY Apps
  • HISTORY2™
  • HISTORY en Español®
  • Military HISTORY®
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Share Your Opinions
  • FAQ / Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Employment Opportunities
  • A+E Factual Studios™
  • Accessibility Support
  • A+E Studios®
  • TV Parental Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Cookie Notice
  • Ad Choices
© 2025, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.