St. Patrick’s Day began as a short break from Lent, but has evolved into one of the most popular holidays ever created. While St. Patrick’s Day celebrations started in Ireland, they have spread around the world. Perhaps the holiday is so popular with various cultures because it is all about having fun and celebrating life.
Ireland
We can’t talk about St. Patrick’s Day celebrations without mentioning Ireland! Ireland keeps up with its traditional roots for this holiday, with many people still going to morning mass before kicking off festivities later in the day. The parades and festivities that we have come to associate with St. Patrick’s Day are quite popular in its homeland; many Irish cities host festivals lasting multiple days, every year! As many as 100 parades are reported to happen throughout Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. You may be sad to find out that not all U.S. and Canadian St. Patrick’s Day traditions are found in the homeland. Wearing green and green colored food/beer is rare to find. Up until the 1970s, pubs actually had to close in observance of the religious holiday!
Russia
You might not think of Russia as having a large Irish community, but they sure do like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Moscow and other Russian cities host parades and festivals celebrating the holiday each year. There is even a Moscow Irish Week! Floats have become a large part of Russian St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, becoming more numerous every year. They are even sponsored by companies such as Pepsi and Guinness. The Russian government joins with the Irish embassy to make these festivals happen, showing that various cultures can collaborate for the enjoyment of everyone.
Japan
The Irish Network Japan (INJ) puts together a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Tokyo each year. The parade attracts almost 10,000 people, even foreign dignitaries sometimes join in. There are a growing number of Irish pubs opening in Japan, and these pubs sometimes give away free drink vouchers to parade spectators. It is also common for the Japanese to wear traditional Irish style clothing while celebrating.
A St. Patrick’s Day parade in Japan
Monseratt
A Caribbean island, part of the Lesser Antilles chain, Monseratt is the only country, besides Ireland and Newfoundland, where St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday. It even has the nickname “the emerald isle of the Caribbean”. Even the passport stamps are in the shape of a shamrock, celebrating the Irish refugees who founded the tiny island. Each year, the celebrations attract tourist to the island.
Of course, many other countries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, including the United States. Many famous landmarks are lit up in green lights in honor of the holiday. Whether it is Irish immigrants settling around the world spreading their culture, or just a product of globalization, St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world.
And for fun, here is our video showing you how to make St. Patrick’s Day inspired Cheesecake Bars!
