St. Patrick's Festival 2010

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He lived during the 5th century AD, and is credited with introducing Christianity to the country. After St. Patrick’s death, it was decided by the people of Ireland that a day should be given to him as a form of remembrance, and the 17th March was chosen. Initially, St. Patrick’s Day was an entirely religious celebration. Today however, it is seen by people in many countries as more of a celebration of Irish culture on the whole. In its early form, St. Patrick’s Day was a day-off from the fasting of Lent, so Christians celebrated by eating lots and drinking ale. This is the part of the day which most people around the world now associate with the festival!

St. Patrick's Day Around the World

 Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day still holds much of its religious importance for many people in Ireland. The day is a public holiday, and many people attend mass in the morning before any celebrations begin. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland was held in Dublin in 1931, but it is only in the last 15 years that the celebration has grown into the 6-day long festival seen today. Click here to find out more.

Manchester, UK. The home city of NCC Education’s head office hosts the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in Britain. This year will be it’s 21st, and part of a 2 week long Irish Festival. Click here to find out more.

USA & Canada. Despite being a religious festival in Ireland for many centuries, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as we know them today have been going on in North America longer than anywhere else. Since the Irish Society of Boston organised the first St. Patrick’s Day parade on 17th March 1737, parades have been regularly held in other major cities such as New York, Chicago, and New Orleans, to name just a few. Montreal plays host to the biggest and longest running parade in Canada, dating back to 1824.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in US cities can be very unique – every year the Chicago River is dyed green in celebration, while celebrations in New Orleans bear more similarities to Mardi Gras than a religious festival! Even the White House in Washington D.C. got in on the celebrations last year by dying the water in its fountains green.

Rest of the World. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are now a global event, with celebrations taking place in almost every major city. Dubai, Hong Kong, and Beijing are just some of the other locations of NCC Education offices, and all have their own St. Patrick’s Day celebrations ranging from the 4 day festival held in Dubai’s Irish Village, to a more traditional wreath-laying event held in Hong Kong. Large events also take place in Australia and across Europe.

NCC Education wishes everybody a happy Saint Patrick’s Day, wherever you are and however you celebrate!

Click here to see pictures of celebrations around the world for last years St. Patrick’s Day.

If you have the opportunity to attend a St. Patrick's Day celebration, why not send us your story and pictures at contribute@nccedu.com?

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Categories: Festivals (Articles)

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