St Patricks Day Pot of Gold with rainbow, shamrocks and hat against rustic wood

Today is St. Patrick’s Day also known as the Feast of St. Patrick to honor the death date of the Irish Patron Saint St. Patrick, who died in 461.

According to Brittanica, this day was made an official Christian feat day in the 17th century, which started being celebrated in the United States as Boston held their first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, followed by New York City in 1762. St. Patrick was known for and is celebrated as being a missionary who sought to convert the Irish people to Christianity by ministering, and establishing monasteries, churches and schools. Patrick spent many years evangelizing in Ireland and converted thousands of the pagan Irish people to Christianity.

Today St. Patrick’s Day is observed annually by several Christian church denominations, but has turned into a secular celebration involving parties, wearing green, leprechauns, traditional Irish food, and decorations involving shamrocks. The history of the shamrock involves St. Patrick using them to explain the Holy Trinity and Leprechauns are part of Irish folklore who are considered little men depicted as shoe makers who have a pot of gold hidden at the end of the rainbow. 

Today, Chicago is typically considered to have the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States, which involves dying the Chicago River green.