St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17 to remember St. Patrick’s death. This holiday was first started in Ireland to celebrate him for bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Before Christianity was introduced to Ireland, most people in Ireland believed in pagan gods. 

Today, this holiday is known for fun traditions, wearing all green and having big parades. Many people dress up all in green and even do green face paint to resemble Ireland’s color. 

In Chicago, where the Irish population is large, the Chicago River is dyed a bright green color. There are thousands of people who attend to watch the river change color and celebrate the special day with everyone else. 

Freshman Kayla Geola said, “On Saint Patrick’s Day, some of my favorite traditions are dressing up all in green and watching YouTube videos of Chicago’s Green River.”

Food is also an important part of this holiday. Many families eat traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and the Full Irish Fry, which comes with an assortment of sausages, pudding, vegetables and soda bread. Restaurants and bakeries often sell green desserts and drinks to celebrate the day. 

Medical Science Academy Teacher Colleen Lynch said to celebrate her family’s Irish heritage, they cook Irish food and wear green. “This year we had corned beef hash, and we had potatoes and carrots. We also had Irish soda bread.”

Even though St. Patrick’s Day started in Ireland, it is now celebrated in many countries around the world, including the United States. For many people, the holiday is a fun way to learn about Irish culture and spend time with friends and family.