Everyone knows the legendary Saint Patrick’s Day. The day where if you don’t wear green you get randomly pinched by your peers and friends. But why do we celebrate this day? Why do we wear green?

Let’s start with who Saint Patrick is. Patrick lived in the fifth century and was the patron saint of Ireland. Although he was born in Roman Britain but was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland. He eventually escaped but returned and claimed to have brought Christianity to them all. What Patrick was most known for was the Holy Trinity (the father, the son, the holy spirit). He explained it to the Irish using a three clover leaf. Patrick was rumored to have died on March 17, 461. It wasn’t until the ninth or tenth century the Irish actually started to celebrate on March 17.

But what does the color green have to do with Saint Patrick? The color green is said to hide you from leprechauns, and if you don’t wear it on Saint Patrick’s Day, they’ll come out and pinch you. Leprechauns are celebrated on Saint Patrick’s as well and even have their own holiday of May 13.  

Many different people celebrate in different ways. Most cities have parades early in the morning. Of course there’s the tradition of wearing green, as we spoke about before. Different people also might cook an Irish meal to their menu for the night. But you might see an adult with a drink in their hands, dancing away to Irish music.  

Saint Patrick’s Day has been widely celebrated for over a decade, and you still get pinched whenever you don’t wear green.