Overview
- March 17 observances are underway worldwide with major parades in Dublin, New York, Boston, Chicago, Munich, Manchester, Savannah and London.
- The day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Montserrat and Canada’s province of Newfoundland, but not in Germany where cities still host festivities.
- Landmarks are lit in green and Chicago’s river turns green using plant‑based dyes, replacing the fluorescent Uranin used until 2003 for safety reasons.
- Common customs include wearing green and shamrocks, themed food and drink such as green beer, and live music rooted in Irish tradition.
- Historians note that the Patrick legend may combine accounts of more than one 5th‑century missionary, with diaspora communities later expanding the date into large public celebrations beginning with early parades in Boston and New York.