Jolly green celebrations

St Patrick’s Day isn’t just about green hats and leprechauns – there’s a fantastic history linked to the celebrations that go on, many of them well beyond Irish shores. Jo Caruana finds out more.

Just like in Malta, Irish people across the globe use ‘St Paddy’s Day’ as their opportunity to be unashamedly patriotic, taking to the streets (or the nearest Irish bar) to pledge their devotion.

But it isn’t just those from the Emerald Isle who do so; thousands of people live by the well-known phrase that ‘everyone wants to be Irish on St Patrick’s Day’.

But what exactly are we all celebrating?

Well, the day commemorates the death of the patron saint of Ireland, Patrick – who wasn’t actually even Irish. He was born in England in 390AD, and he wasn’t really that religious for much of his life.

As a boy he was sold into slavery and ended up in Ireland, but escaped to France, where he joined a monastery and studied under St Germain, the bishop of Auxerre.

He spent around 12 years in training before having a dream that the Irish were calling him back; a calling that he followed.

In the subsequent years he converted many of the country’s pagans to Christianity, which made him a legend soon after his lifetime.

He died on March 17, a day that has now become synonymous with his name – and all things Irish!

Join the celebrations around the world

America
Many argue that the kafuffle that surrounded St Patrick’s Day was actually ‘made in America’.You see, until the 1970s, it wasconsidered to be a minor religious holiday inIreland, marked by Mass and a large family meal at most.

But, as more than eight million people had emigrated from Ireland to the US between 1801 and 1921, it was this new breed of Irish-Americans that took things to the next level.

Today massive parades take place in states across the continent, and are best known in Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago.

It may still be a way to honour the saint, but it’s also aimed at confirming identity and strengthening bonds of solidarity.

Thus, March 17 has become the day to paint the whole of America a sparkling shade of green; the water in public spots such as parks and in fountains has been known to be dyed green for the day and Chicago even dyes its river.

For the very best celebrations head to one of three cities: New York, Chicago or Boston.

In New York, you can expect to be joined by some two million other revellers, who take part in the world’s biggest St Paddy’s Day parade, which travels along 44th Street, up Fifth Avenue and past the beautiful St Patrick’s Cathedral on 50th Street.

Chicago, meanwhile, will be awash with Irish-inspired floats and lively dances through the city’s core, and top-of-the-list Boston, which is hard to beat when it comes to the sheerover-the-topness of their celebrations, with floats, bagpipers and marching bands.

Oslo
Yes, believe it or not, Oslo is one of the world’s foremost destinations for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Organised by the Norwegian Irish Society, they stop at nothing to mark the day in as special a way as possible – namely with a lively parade through the city.

You will be one of over a thousand people joining in as the parades stops by the main shopping streets, waltzes past Oslo Cathedral and ends up in the Town Hall Square, where celebrations go on long into the night.

‘St Patrick’ will actually be in attendance too, driven by a red-bearded chauffer in a horse and cart, as well as all sorts of other colourful Irish characters.

Birmingham, England
Birmingham is one of the best places to head to on St Patrick’s Day in the UK. A festival is held here annually, and the whole city comes alive to celebrate it – including the central Selfridges Building, which is lit up completely in green just for the occasion.

The highlight of the festival is the parade which usually kicks off the on the Saturday, complete with floats, marching bands and walking groups, as well as a special fundraising balloon race overhead.

Budapest, Hungary
Finally, Budapest one of the more unusual cities to come alive in support of St Patrick, with a lively parade that has started to gain ground since it was launched last year.

Aside from the usual, Budapest will also be host to some fantastic themed pub quizzes and a huge gala dinner to mark the night.

And best of all? If you can prove that your name is Patrick, a local pub will offer you a pint of Guinness on the house.

Travel Fact: 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed around the world on St Patrick’s Day.