The history behind St. Patrick's Day

Samantha GrindellMar 18, 2021, 00:53 IST

St. Patrick's Day started as a religious holiday.Ranieri Pieper/Shutterstock

St. Patrick's Day is a global celebration that often involves beers and parades.
It is historically a religious day that was made popular by Irish American immigrants in the 1700s.
In the '90s, the Irish government began promoting celebrations to increase tourism.

When you think of St. Patrick's Day, you probably think of a day-long party.

St. Patrick's Day is often a time for parties. Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

The holiday honors Saint Patrick, a patron saint and missionary.

Saint Patrick and his followers, played by actors, lead the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2016, in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

In the 17th century, the church held an official feast day in honor of the saint.

Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 2019. Gareth Fuller/ WPA Pool/ Getty Images

St. Patrick's Day as we know it today took shape in the 1700s.

St. Patrick's Day was a respite. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

The first New York City parade in honor of St. Patrick's Day took place in 1762.

A St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City. Craig Ruttle/AP

St. Patrick's Day celebrations got bigger in the United States as the Irish immigrant population grew.

President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline O. Kennedy attend a St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1958. Boston Globe / Contributor / Getty Images

Public attitude toward Irish Americans became more positive in the early 1900s.

Attitudes toward Irish-Americans shifted in the 20th century. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Chicago first dyed its river green for the holiday in 1962.

Workers dye the Chicago River green as part of the city's annual St. Patrick's day celebrations in Chicago. REUTERS/John Gress

The United States made March the official Irish American Heritage month in 1991.

March is the official Irish-American Heritage month. Michael Nagle/Getty Images

St. Patrick's Day didn't become a non-religious celebration in Ireland until the late 20th century.

St. Patrick's Day was a religious event in Ireland until the late 20th century. Shutterstock

St. Patrick's Day is now celebrated around the world.

St. Patrick's Day is a global celebration. NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images

People are honoring the holiday with virtual or socially distant celebrations this year.

A group of people at a spring training baseball game in Florida on St. Patrick's Day 2021. Douglas P. DeFelice / Stringer / Getty Images

I got a drink at one of Asia's best bars, a glamorous Art Deco lounge in Singapore where scenes of 'Westworld' were filmed. It felt like a step back in time.

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