Saint Patrick's Day 2020

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c.385 - (c.461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick depicted in a stained-glass
window at Saint Benin's Church, Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.

Saint Patrick's Day, while not a legal holiday in the United States, is nonetheless widely recognised and observed throughout the country as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. Celebrations include prominent displays of the color green, religious observances, numerous parades, and copious consumption of alcohol. The holiday has been celebrated in what is now the U.S since 1601. The City of Chicago dyes the Chicago River green and there is a huge parade in New Yok City. However, in 2020, for the first time in over 250 years, that parade, the largest in the world, was postponed due to concerns about coronavirus.