Saint Patrick's Day (March 17 ) is a Catholic feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (386-493), the patron saint of Ireland . It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland (but not Northern Ireland ); the overseas territory of Montserrat ; and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador .
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Like Christmas and Halloween (which originated as the eve of All Saint's Day ) it is increasingly celebrated in a non-religious manner, the celebration themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and imbibing Irish drink, and/or attending parades. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world is held in New York City . Parades also take place in Dublin and in most other Irish towns and villages. Other large parades include those in Savannah, Georgia , Cleveland , Manchester , Montreal , Boston and Chicago . Large parades also take place in other places throughout Europe and the Americas , as well as Australia and Asia .
As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland (among other churches in the Anglican Communion ) and some other denominations. The day always falls in the season of Lent and sometimes during Holy Week . In church calendars (though rarely in secular ones) Saint Patrick's Day is moved to the following Monday when it falls on a Sunday. If it falls in Holy Week, it is moved to the second Monday after Easter . It is traditional for those observing a lenten fast to break it for the duration of Saint Patrick's Day.[1]
In many parts of the U.S., Britain, and Australia, expatriate Irish, those of Irish descent, and ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's Day, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages (lager dyed green, Irish beer such as Murphys , Smithwicks , Harp or Guinness , or Irish whiskey , Irish Coffee or Baileys Irish Cream ) and by wearing at least one article of green-colored clothing.