Although St. Patrick’s Day is officially marked on the calendar on March 17th, celebrations begin well in advance to honour Ireland’s patron saint. And it’s not just on the European island. This Irish-born festivity started spreading in the 1990s, crossing borders with vibrant parties that fill the week with the colour green.
Without a doubt, Dublin and Belfast are the heart of the celebrations, hosting grand parades with traditional Irish music and cultural events. During these days, it’s common to dress in green, pin a shamrock to your jacket, and, of course, indulge in traditional Irish cuisine. Some of the most notable dishes include Irish stew, a hearty lamb stew with potatoes and carrots; Colcannon, a delicious mashed potato dish with cabbage and onions; soda bread, a quick bread made without yeast that accompanies many meals; and Guinness pie, a savoury meat pie cooked with the famous stout beer, giving it a deep, roasted flavour. These dishes reflect the essence of Irish cooking: simple ingredients and comforting flavours.
Beer, especially Guinness, is another major highlight. During these days, pubs are packed with people enjoying the traditional dry stout, first brewed in 1759 by master brewer Arthur Guinness at Dublin’s St. James’s Gate Brewery. The only drink that might rival it is Irish whiskey. If you want to put your own twist on the experience, you can pair it with a medium to strong strength Cuban mini cigar, such as a Partagás Serie Mini, which complements the roasted notes of Guinness or whiskey – this pairing isn’t yet a tradition, but give it time…
The other country that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with great enthusiasm is the United States, thanks to its large Irish community. In fact, New York hosts one of the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades, an event first held in 1762 with over 250,000 participants, while Boston is credited with organizing the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day celebration in 1737. However, the most original idea comes from Chicago, which has dyed its river green since the 1960s—an emblem of the celebration. Over the decades, the technique has improved, and today they use 11 kilograms of vegetable dye, which disappears after a few hours.
Interestingly, although green is now inseparable from St. Patrick’s Day, this wasn’t always the case. Until the 19th century, the official colour of the celebration was blue, but Ireland’s deep connection to nature and the shamrock eventually made green the dominant hue.
St. Patrick’s Day is much more than a party—it’s tradition, music, and streets overflowing with green across the world. Whether in Dublin or Chicago, each toast keeps the Irish spirit alive.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
