History of Saint Patrick's Day in Timeline

Saint Patrick's Day, observed annually on March 17th, commemorates the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Originally a religious feast, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture. Key aspects include parades, wearing green attire, shamrocks, Irish music and dance, and symbols of Irish heritage. Celebrations often involve consuming Irish food and beverages. While rooted in religious tradition, Saint Patrick's Day is now widely recognized as a secular holiday celebrating Irish identity and culture across the globe.

1901: Introduction of shamrock presentation to the Irish Guards

In 1901, Queen Alexandra introduced the tradition of the Royal Colonel presenting bowls of shamrock to members of the Irish Guards.

1903: Saint Patrick's Day becomes an official public holiday in Ireland

In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland due to the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903, an act of the United Kingdom parliament introduced by Irish MP James O'Mara.

1903: First Saint Patrick's Day parade in Ireland

The first Saint Patrick's Day parade in Ireland was held in Waterford in 1903, during Irish Language Week. The parade included the Mayor, Waterford Corporation members, trade unions, and bands, commencing at the Gaelic League premises on George's St and concluding in the Peoples Park, where dignitaries addressed the public.

1916: Flags of the Easter Rising featured green

In 1916, flags of the Easter Rising featured green, such as the Starry Plough banner and the Proclamation Flag of the Irish Republic.

1916: Revival of Irishness due to Easter Rising

In 1916, the Easter Rising in Dublin and Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne re-ignited Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in Australia and revived the sense of Irishness amongst those with Irish heritage.

1916: Irish Volunteers hold St Patrick's Day parades

On Saint Patrick's Day in 1916, the Irish Volunteers held parades throughout Ireland; authorities recorded 38 parades with 6,000 marchers, about half of whom were armed.

1919: Toronto Maple Leafs renamed Toronto St. Patricks

In 1919, the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team was renamed the Toronto St. Patricks and wore green jerseys to honor Saint Patrick's Day.

1921: Union Jack controversy at parade

In 1921, authorities in Victoria ordered a Union Jack be flown at the front of the Saint Patrick's Day parade, leading to refusal by Irishmen and Irish-Australians and subsequent assault on the flag bearer.

1922: Irish Free State post boxes painted green

In 1922, when the Irish Free State was founded, the government ordered all post boxes be painted green, with the slogan "green paint for a green people".

1924: Introduction of green Irish passport

In 1924, the government introduced a green Irish passport.

1925: St Patrick's Society of Selangor founded

In 1925, the St Patrick's Society of Selangor, which organizes a yearly St Patrick's Ball, was founded, and is described as the biggest Saint Patrick's Day celebration in Asia.

1926: End of Quebec City St-Patrick Parade

In 1926, the Quebec City St-Patrick Parade ceased after running from 1837.

1927: Alcohol sales banned on St Patrick's Day in the Irish Free State

In 1927, the Irish Free State government banned the selling of alcohol on St Patrick's Day.

1927: End of Toronto St. Patricks name

In 1927, the Toronto St. Patricks were renamed.

1929: United Irish Societies of Montreal organize Saint Patrick's Day parade

Since 1929, the United Irish Societies of Montreal has organized the yearly Saint Patrick's Day parade in Montreal, continuing a tradition that has been held without interruption since 1824.

1931: First official St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin

In 1931, the first official, state-sponsored Saint Patrick's Day parade in Dublin took place.

1940: Saint Patrick's Day observance moved

In 1940, Saint Patrick's Day was officially observed on April 3 to avoid coinciding with Palm Sunday.

1950: King George VI presents shamrocks to the Irish Guards

In 1950, King George VI presented bowls of shamrock to the Irish Guards to mark the 50th anniversary of their formation.

1952: Start of Shamrock Presentation Tradition

In 1952, the tradition began of the Irish Ambassador to the US sending a box of shamrocks to the US President (Harry S. Truman) for Saint Patrick's Day.

1955: End of Public Holiday Status in New Zealand

In 1955, Saint Patrick's Day ceased to be recognised as a public holiday in New Zealand, along with St George's Day and St Andrew's Day.

1961: Repeal of alcohol ban on St Patrick's Day

In 1961, the ban on selling alcohol on St Patrick's Day in the Irish Free State was repealed.

1976: Car bomb attack during St Patrick's Day celebration in Dungannon

In 1976, during the Troubles, loyalists detonated a car bomb outside a pub crowded with Catholics celebrating St Patrick's Day in Dungannon, resulting in four civilian deaths and many injuries.

1976: First Saint Patrick's Day Celebration in Korea

In 1976, the Irish Association of Korea began celebrating Saint Patrick's Day in Seoul and Busan, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland in Korea.

1985: Orange Order holds Saint Patrick's Day parade

In 1985, the Orange Order held its own Saint Patrick's Day parade in Northern Ireland.

1990: Revival of Brisbane Parade

In 1990, Brisbane revived its Saint Patrick's Day parade, which had been cancelled at the outbreak of World War II.

1992: First Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo

In 1992, The Irish Network Japan (INJ) organized the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in Tokyo.

1994: Formalization of Shamrock Presentation Ceremony

In 1994, after the meeting between Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and President Bill Clinton, the presentation of shamrocks to the US President became a yearly custom.

March 1996: First Saint Patrick's Festival

The first Saint Patrick's Festival was held on March 17, 1996, as part of a government campaign to showcase Ireland and its culture.

1997: Saint Patrick's Festival becomes a three-day event

In 1997, the Saint Patrick's Festival became a three-day event.

1998: Cross-community St Patrick's Day parades in Northern Ireland

Since the end of the conflict in 1998, there have been cross-community St Patrick's Day parades in towns throughout Northern Ireland, attracting thousands of spectators.

1999: Toronto Maple Leafs wear green St Patrick's retro uniforms

In 1999, the Toronto Maple Leafs wore green St Patrick's retro uniforms for their game on Saint Patrick's Day.

1999: Shortest St Patrick's Day parade in Dripsey begins

In 1999, the shortest Saint Patrick's Day parade began in Dripsey, County Cork, lasting just 23.4 metres between two pubs.

1999: Yearly Saint Patrick's Day festival in Moscow

Since 1999, there has been a yearly "Saint Patrick's Day" festival in Moscow and other Russian cities.

2000: First Saint Patrick's Day parade in Oslo

Since 2000, Oslo, Norway has held a Saint Patrick's Day parade, first organized by Irish expatriates and partially coordinated with the Irish embassy.

2001: St Patrick's Day celebrations postponed due to foot-and-mouth outbreak

In 2001, public St Patrick's Day festivities in Ireland were postponed to May due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

2002: Inaugural Saint Patrick's Day parade in London

Since 2002, London has hosted an annual Saint Patrick's Day parade around March 17, typically in Trafalgar Square.

2004: Shortest St Patrick's Day parade in Hot Springs

In 2004, Hot Springs, Arkansas began hosting the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade since 2004, measuring at 98 feet.

2004: CelticFest Vancouver Society organizes first yearly festival

In 2004, the CelticFest Vancouver Society organised its first yearly festival in downtown Vancouver to celebrate the Celtic Nations and their cultures, including a parade near Saint Patrick's Day.

2006: Saint Patrick's Festival becomes a five-day event

By 2006, the Saint Patrick's Festival had expanded to a five-day event.

2006: Large Saint Patrick's Day Party in Buenos Aires

In 2006, Buenos Aires hosted a Saint Patrick's Day party in Reconquista street, drawing 50,000 people to the Irish pubs in the area. The Catholic Church and the Irish community did not participate in organizing the event.

2006: Melbourne festival cancelled

In 2006, Melbourne's Saint Patrick's Day festivals and parades were cancelled due to the Commonwealth Games being booked around the planned events.

March 2007: Call to reclaim St Patrick's Day as a church festival

In the March 2007 issue of The Word magazine, Fr Vincent Twomey voiced concern about the secularization of Saint Patrick's Day and called for it to be reclaimed as a church festival.

2007: First Saint Patrick's Day parade and festival in Glasgow

Glasgow has held a yearly Saint Patrick's Day parade and festival since 2007, reflecting its large Irish population.

2007: Melbourne parade cancelled

In 2007, Melbourne's Saint Patrick's Day festivals and parades were cancelled due to the Australian Grand Prix being booked around the planned events.

2008: Saint Patrick's Day observance moved

In 2008, Saint Patrick's Day was officially observed on March 15 because March 17 fell during Holy Week.

2008: Trafalgar Square fountains dyed green

In 2008, the water in the Trafalgar Square fountains was dyed green for Saint Patrick's Day.

March 2009: Calgary Tower Goes Green

In March 2009, the Calgary Tower changed its top exterior lights to green CFL bulbs for Saint Patrick's Day as part of Project Porchlight, representing environmental concerns. Approximately 210 lights were changed, saving the Calgary Tower some $12,000 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 104 tonnes.

2009: Record attendance at Saint Patrick's Festival

In 2009, more than 675,000 people attended the parade, and the festival saw almost 1 million visitors.

2010: Global Greening Initiative

In 2010, Tourism Ireland started the "Global Greening Initiative," where famous landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland were lit up in green for Saint Patrick's Day.

2010: Return of Quebec City St-Patrick Parade

In 2010, the Quebec City St-Patrick Parade returned after more than 84 years, with the New York Police Department Pipes and Drums as special guests.

2011: Catherine Coleman's Space Performance

On Saint Patrick's Day in 2011, Irish-American astronaut Catherine Coleman played a hundred-year-old flute and a tin whistle belonging to members of The Chieftains while aboard the International Space Station.

2012: Skyfest as the centrepiece of the Saint Patrick's Festival

From 2006 to 2012 the Skyfest formed the centrepiece of the Saint Patrick's Festival.

2012: "The Chieftains in Orbit" Released

In 2012, Catherine Coleman's 2011 performance in space was included in a track called "The Chieftains in Orbit" on The Chieftains' album, Voice of Ages.

2012: Duchess of Cambridge presents shamrocks to the Irish Guards

Since 2012, the Duchess of Cambridge has presented the bowls of shamrock to the Irish Guards.

2013: Chris Hadfield's Saint Patrick's Day in Space

On Saint Patrick's Day in 2013, Chris Hadfield took photographs of Ireland from Earth orbit, posted a picture of himself in green clothing in the space station, and shared a recording of himself singing "Danny Boy" online.

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2014: Ban Lifted in New York City

In 2014, the ban on LGBTQ groups marching in New York City's Saint Patrick's Day parade was lifted, though barriers to participation remained.

2014: Campaign Against Negative Stereotypes

In the run up to Saint Patrick's Day 2014, the Ancient Order of Hibernians successfully campaigned to stop major American retailers from selling novelty merchandise that promoted negative Irish stereotypes, such as 'leprechaun outfits'.

2014: Moscow Irish Week

Moscow Irish Week was celebrated from 12 to 23 March in 2014, including Saint Patrick's Day on 17 March, featuring over 70 events celebrating Irish culture in multiple cities.

2015: Sarajevo Irish Festival established

In 2015, the Sarajevo Irish Festival was established by the Irish expatriate community in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is held for three days around Saint Patrick's Day.

2015: Ban Lifted in Boston

In 2015, the ban on LGBTQ groups participating in Boston's Saint Patrick's Day parade was lifted.

2016: Sydney parade cancelled

In 2016, Sydney's Saint Patrick's Day parade and family day were cancelled due to financial problems.

2016: Duke of Cambridge presents shamrocks to the Irish Guards

In 2016, the Duke of Cambridge presented the bowls of shamrock to the Irish Guards in place of his wife.

2017: Saint Patrick's feast day added to the Russian Orthodox Church calendar

In 2017, the Russian Orthodox Church added the feast day of Saint Patrick to its liturgical calendar, to be celebrated on March 30.

2019: Waterloo street party growth

Since 2019, the City of Waterloo, Ontario has had to contend with an ever-growing massive street party that has coincided with the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.

2020: Brisbane Parade Held Despite Pandemic

In 2020, Brisbane's Saint Patrick's Day parade was not cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike many other parades around the world.

2020: St Patrick's Day celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, public St Patrick's Day festivities in Ireland were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Cancellation of London parade due to COVID-19

In 2020, the Saint Patrick's Day parade in London was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: St Patrick's Day celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

In 2021, public St Patrick's Day festivities in Ireland were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Irish UN Peacekeepers Celebrate in Syria

In 2021, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force's Irish contingent led a Saint Patrick's Day parade in Syria, where members received shamrocks and 35 personnel were presented with the UN Peacekeeping Medal.

2022: Shortest St Patrick's Day parade in Little Compton

In 2022, the current shortest Saint Paddy's Day parade has been held in Little Compton, Rhode Island which lasts only 89 feet.

2023: Increased security measures for Waterloo street party

In 2023, police put up fences on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo to discourage participation in the unauthorized Saint Patrick's Day street party, which costs the city up to $750,000 a year for police, paramedics, and municipal services.