Slainte (Cheers)

Saint Patrick’s Day has become a globally celebrated and recognized holiday. On March 17th, crowds across the world gather in green to celebrate a day which many probably dont even know the history nor context of.

It is a day of parades, and beer drinking. Preferably, Guinness drinking.

Most understand, it is a day which pertains to the small island of Ireland but beyond that, who the historical figure that is Saint Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, tends to only be understood in Ireland itself and in historical Irish diaspora cities across North America and Great Britain.

The success of the holiday has even reached the other side of the globe, in Japan of all places. In Tokyo, every year an “I Love Ireland,” festival takes place that includes Irish music, dancing and the typical green coloring decorations. Japan, where no Irish diaspora settled, and where Japanese people themselves, celebrate Irish culture.

The global influence of Irish culture is to blame for this adoption of the holiday in regions far from Saint Patrick’s original origins. The popularity of Guinness beer, Irish music and dancing has inspired many to pay homage to an island that is barely the size of the US State of South Carolina.

Cultural Aspects of Saint Patrick’s Day

Leprechauns, red hair, shamrocks (Three-Leaf Clover) and a pint of the Black Stuff (Guinness) are cultural artifacts of Ireland, that one day a year, people all over attach themselves too.

The green shamrock or three leaf clover, a national cultural symbol of Ireland, represents the trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit which Saint Patrick used to convert the pagan Irish into followers of Christ. The Irish were deeply connected to nature, thus Saint Patrick used this connection to help them understand Christianity.

And then there’s the Leprechauns, small, mythological, elf like creatures, which hail from Ireland’s ancient past, prior to the time of Saint Patrick and are known for their mischief.

While Saint Patrick himself probably didn’t have red hair, Ireland and Scotland are the only places in the world that this distinct coloring among the people can be found in relative abundance. About 10% of people in Ireland have the MC1R gene which is a genetic mutation which causes red hair (1). Even more Irish and Scottish people have genes which produces orange colored beards. The Celtic peoples which founded the nation of Ireland were notorious for having bright red hair and it fascinated the Greeks and Romans in Ancient times. Indeed the Romans in the midst of their conquests, would take Celtic slaves and put them on the market in Rome where people would buy them for servitude just because of their curious appearance.

The Black Stuff, or the Wine of Ireland, which is officially called Guinness, is the beer of choice among Irishmen and women. Its dark, creamy and dense character, made it a favorite among working class people in Ireland who after a day in the rain and cold, desired a heavier drink. Having a Guinness in a pub, goes along with having a craic, or having fun, or a notable experience.

Irish For a Day

To be sure, even though the Irish Diaspora never reached Japan or large areas of South America, Irish people made a huge impact on the world beginning in the 19th century. In 1841, a horrific famine hit the potato fields of Ireland, causing enormous devastation which caused Irish people to leave the island in the millions. Arriving in the United States, Canada, Australia and even Ireland’s historical arch nemesis, England, Irish people quickly made a name for themselves for their tough characters and work ethic.

My great great great Grandparents Denis Mahoney and Mary O’Connell were among these diaspora, who made their way to America during this turbulent time in the homeland.

When the United States was still being settled and built into the economic and cultural superpower that it is today, Irish people took jobs as construction workers, soldiers and firefighters and policemen. In New York City, Boston and Chicago, they quickly took over the ranks of the Police and Fire departments, contributing enormously to building those cities into what they are today. They became Union soldiers right off the boats in the 1860’s and helped the Union defeat the confederacy in the United State’s civil war conflict.

The United States has even designated the entire month of March as Irish-American heritage month, where Donald Trump recently spoke on the holiday (March 17th, 2026):

“As part of this great celebration, we also honor 250 years of cherished Irish-American friendship and 250 years of fierce, proud, tenacious Irish-American heritage. These are incredible people.”

Indeed, The President highlighted the Irish contributions to the military in stating that over 50% of the awardees of the Congressional Medal of Honor Awardees were of Irish descent.

The Irish never forgot who they were and where they came from. The integral social institutions in Ireland, known simply as, ‘pubs’ which are renowned for their lively atmosphere and signature music, were set up across the New World. Their ability to speak English allowed for a quick assimilation into the societies of Canada and the United States. The importance of Saint Patrick’s day became just as relevant to non Irish Americans, Canadians and Australians, as it was to the Irish themselves because people realized their contributions.

And the Irish used the holiday to focus the attention on issues in their homeland, where their native culture was being repressed under British rule.

People admired the resiliency of the Irish people who survived hunger and colonization of their homeland.

Furthermore, as time past, and technology developed, images of Ireland’s rugged and enchanting landscapes have reached people all over. A green land amidst crashing waves and rolling mountains, inspired explorers.

Chicago Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s day in Chicago, is one of the bigger Saint Patrick’s celebrations in the world. There has been a parade on the holiday since the 1840’s here, in recognition of the Irish contribution to the American city. In the 1962, the idea started to dye the Chicago River green. They originally used quite a harsh chemical, but today they use a lighter vegetable dye. No matter, the river still becomes a vibrant and potent green.

Why Saint Patrick’s Day Matters

Saint Patrick’s day matters not because Guinness is one of the greatest beers in the world, or even because a Welsh Saint turned the Irish away from their pagan beliefs, but it shows how great struggle has produced a culture in which everyone can relate too.

Perseverance, the love of words, dance and music and an island with enchanting landscapes, makes everyone become a little Irish every year on March 17th.

Explorer’s Guide To Ireland

Learn more about Saint Patrick and the cultural items of Ireland which have become world renowned in my book “The Explorer’s Guide to Ireland.”