St. Patrick's Day in Ireland began as a Christian feast day in the early Middle Ages, honoring the missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland. Over centuries, it grew into a national symbol of Irish identity, blending faith, tradition and culture.

When is St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated every year on March 17.

The following is the list of St. Patrick's Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick (c. 385–461 AD) was a Christian missionary, originally from Roman Britain, who was enslaved in Ireland as a teenager. After escaping, he returned later in life to spread Christianity.

He is credited with converting much of Ireland, establishing churches, schools and monasteries. According to legend, he used the shamrock to explain the Christian Trinity.

He died on March 17th, which became his feast day in the Christian liturgical calendar.

By the 7th century, Patrick was widely venerated as Patrick's patron saint. His feast day was marked with religious services, prayers, and pilgrimages, especially to sites linked to Patrick such as Croagh Patrick in County Mayo and Saul, County Down, where he founded a church.

March 17th was seen as a holy day, not a festival, and was observed with fasting and church attendance.

In 1631, the Catholic Church officially placed St. Patrick's Day on its universal liturgical calendar. During the 17th–18th centuries, it became a day when Irish people could break their Lenten fast, which helped bring in festive meals and gatherings.

The shamrock became a national symbol during this period, tied to both religion and Irish identity. With the rise of Irish nationalism, St. Patrick's Day evolved into a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, not just religion.

In 1903, St. Patrick's Day was declared a public holiday in Ireland. Traditionally, the day was more solemn in Ireland until the late 20th century, with pubs even closed on March 17th until the 1970s. Since the 1990s, the Irish government has promoted St. Patrick's Day as a global festival of Irish culture.