St Patrick's Day : Facts, Traditions & Beer
St Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest global celebrations of Irish culture, a day filled with parades, music, dancing and, of course, great beer. Whether you’re heading to local St Patrick’s Day events or celebrating at home, no party is complete without the right St Patrick’s Day beer.
Let’s explore the history, traditions and (most importantly) the best Irish beers to raise on March 17th.
When is St Patrick's Day?
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th, marking the death of Saint Patrick in 461 AD. Originally a Roman Catholic feast day, it has grown into a worldwide celebration of Irish heritage.
While it began in Ireland, Irish emigrants in the United States transformed it into the lively celebration we know today. The first recorded St Patrick’s Day parade took place in Boston in 1737, and the festivities have only grown bigger (and greener) ever since.
What is the best beer for St Patrick’s Day?
To celebrate St Patrick’s Day in true Irish style, you need a quintessentially Irish beer. Guinness and Murphy’s are internationally recognised Irish stouts, dark in colour, silky smooth and almost no bitterness with a mouth-watering creamy finish.
For those of you that aren't the biggest stout fans, there is another way to make your beer choice festive: make it green! While it sounds like you will need to go make a deal with a wizard to make this, luckily there's a much cheaper way. There is no magic, no alchemy, no swanky mixologist needed to make green beer, all it requires is a light-coloured beer and some green food colouring. Don’t worry, it won’t affect the taste, it will just make it emerald green.
Alternatively, you can celebrate with a green labelled beer for your SUB, BeerTender or BLADE.
Explore our recommendations for lager and pilsner for even more inspiration, or go for darker beers (although you won't get that vibrant green colour). Just add one teaspoon of green food colouring to your brew for the perfect St Patrick's Day beer.
What are some St Patrick's Day traditions?
Traditionally, those who celebrated Christian holidays held huge feasts to commemorate St Patrick. Other traditions include wearing green clothing, parades, featuring bagpipers and Irish dancers (particularly in Ireland and cities with large Irish communities) and religious services and cultural events, like Irish music and dance performances. Additionally, the day is marked by the display of shamrocks, symbolising the Holy Trinity, and the search for hidden leprechauns, mythical creatures from Irish folklore.
Why is St Patrick's Day green?
The colour green has been linked to Ireland for centuries. It represents the lush landscapes of the country and is often associated with the famous luck of the Irish.
St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leafed green plant, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) while spreading Christianity in Ireland. This is said to have led to the adoption of green as a symbol of both Ireland and St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Over time, people began wearing green clothing and accessories on St. Patrick's Day as a way to honor Irish heritage and embrace the festive spirit of the holiday.
Facts about St. Patrick you probably didn't know
As we've learned, he's celebrated around the world, but what else is there to know about the famous man?
St Patrick wasn't actually Irish
Despite being the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick wasn't actually born in Ireland. He was born in Britain (either Scotland or Wales), likely in the late 4th century.
St Patrick was kidnapped by pirates
When he was around 16 years old, St. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave, where he worked as a shepherd. During his time in captivity, St. Patrick turned to Christianity. After six years in captivity, he managed to escape and return to his family.
No, St Patrick probably didn't get rid of all the snakes in Ireland
Legend has it that St. Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. Although, there is no evidence that snakes ever existed in the country since the last Ice Age.
St Patrick wore blue, not green
Really! In all surviving artworks of St Patrick, we see him wearing blue robes. Over time, however, green as a national colour became the more popular choice.
St. Patrick's cathedral
The legendary patron saint is buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Not to be mistaken for St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, which is not his burial site but an equally prominent landmark.
Whether you're attending major St Patrick’s Day events, hosting friends at home or simply enjoying a quiet pint, choosing the right beer for St Patrick’s makes all the difference.
From creamy Irish stout to festive green lagers, there’s a perfect St Patrick’s Day beer for everyone. So on March 17th, wear green, raise a pint of one of the best Irish beers, and celebrate Irish culture in style.
Sláinte! 🍻