Saint Patrick’s Day, also known as St. Paddy’s Day or simply Paddy’s Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa AD 385–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on 17th of March. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide by those of Irish descent and increasingly by people of other ethnicities as well.
The day is a national holiday of Ireland: it is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. It is also a public holiday in Montserrat. In Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Argentina and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday. The phrase “the wearing of the green”, meaning to wear a shamrock on one’s clothing, derives from the song of the same name.
As a kid, I remember the day as a time to wear green or get pinched by the other kids. So where did that “custom” come from? Maybe it’s just a way to remind those not wearing green to get with it and not forget about the great Saint Patrick? I think it was just an excuse to pinch someone and get away with it. However you look at it, it hurt!
Saint Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green-colored clothing and items. Cities celebrate the day in many ways. They might paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green, dye their river, fountains or other water features green or “green” other things. Maybe the government could just pass out some free money ($100 dollar bills)? That’s green, ain’t it? 
However you or yours celebrates the day, we hope you enjoy it. Oh, and be careful not to get pinched. 
