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. Originating as a religious feast day, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture. While initially a solemn religious observance, it is now widely recognized through parades, wearing green attire, consuming Irish food and drinks, and other festivities. The holiday honors Irish heritage and the legacy of Saint Patrick, credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Celebrations take place in Ireland and across the world, particularly in countries with large Irish diasporas.

1901: Tradition of Presenting Shamrock to Irish Guards Introduced

In 1901, Queen Alexandra introduced the tradition of the Royal Colonel presenting bowls of shamrock to members of the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army.

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 through 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

In 1903, the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in Ireland was held in Waterford on Sunday, March 15th as part of Irish Language Week. The parade included the Mayor, Waterford Corporation members, trade unions, and bands, commencing at the Gaelic League premises and ending in Peoples Park. On March 17th, most Waterford businesses closed, and marching bands paraded.

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, emphasizing the color's association with Irish nationalism.

1916: Easter Rising and Archbishop Daniel Mannix Re-ignite St Patrick's Day Celebrations in Australia

In 1916, historian Patrick O'Farrell credits the Easter Rising in Dublin and Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne for re-igniting St Patrick's Day celebrations in Australia and reviving the sense of Irishness amongst those with Irish heritage.

1916: Irish Volunteers Hold Parades Throughout Ireland

On Saint Patrick's Day in 1916, the Irish Volunteers held parades throughout Ireland, with authorities recording 38 parades involving 6,000 marchers. Almost half of the marchers were reported to be armed. The following month, the Irish Volunteers launched the Easter Rising against British rule, which marked the beginning of the Irish revolutionary period.

1921: Controversy Surrounds Union Jack at Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Victoria

In 1921, Bishop Patrick Phelan of Sale described how the authorities in Victoria had ordered that a Union Jack be flown at the front of the Saint Patrick's Day parade. After Irishmen and Irish-Australians refused, the authorities paid for an individual to carry the flag at the head of the parade, leading to the individual being assaulted and the assaulters later fined in court.

1922: Post Boxes Painted Green

In 1922, upon the founding of the Irish Free State, the government ordered all post boxes to be painted green, accompanied by the slogan "green paint for a green people," solidifying the color's national identity.

1924: Introduction of Green Irish Passport

In 1924, the government of the Irish Free State introduced a green Irish passport, further embedding green as a symbol of Irish national identity.

1925: St Patrick's Society of Selangor Founded

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

1926: Last Parade in Quebec City

There was a parade in Quebec City from 1837 to 1926.

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, a law that remained in effect until 1961. During this time, the ban did not extend to Northern Ireland, where alcohol sales remained legal.

1929: United Irish Societies of Montreal Organized Saint Patrick's Day Celebration

Since 1929, the United Irish Societies of Montreal have organized the yearly Saint Patrick's Day parade, continuing a tradition of celebration in the city.

1931: First Official St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin

In 1931, the first official, state-sponsored Saint Patrick's Day parade took place in Dublin, marking a shift towards public celebrations of the holiday.

1940: Saint Patrick's Day Observed on April 3rd

In 1940, Saint Patrick's Day was officially observed on April 3rd because March 17th coincided with Palm Sunday.

1950: King George VI Presented Shamrock to Irish Guards

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

1955: Saint Patrick's Day no longer recognised as a public holiday in New Zealand

From 1878 to 1955, Saint Patrick's Day was recognised as a public holiday in New Zealand, together with St George's Day (England) and St Andrew's Day (Scotland), since 1955, Saint Patrick's Day is no longer recognised as a public holiday.

1961: Alcohol Ban Repealed on St Patrick's Day in the Irish Free State

In 1961, the Irish Free State government repealed the selling of alcohol on St Patrick's Day, effectively ending a law that remained in effect since 1927.

1976: Car Bombing During St Patrick's Day Celebration in Dungannon

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

1976: Irish Association of Korea Celebrates Saint Patrick's Day

Since 1976, the Irish Association of Korea has celebrated Saint Patrick's Day in Seoul and Busan, sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland in Korea.

1985: Orange Order Held Saint Patrick's Day Parade

In 1985, the Orange Order held its own Saint Patrick's Day parade in Northern Ireland, as an attempt to 're-claim' the festival amidst sectarian divisions.

1990: Brisbane's Saint Patrick's Day parade was revived

Brisbane's Saint Patrick's Day parade, which was cancelled at the outbreak of World War II, was revived in 1990.

1992: First Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Tokyo

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

1994: Presenting of shamrocks to the US president became a yearly custom

After the meeting between Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and President Bill Clinton in 1994, the presenting of the shamrocks became a yearly custom.

1997: St Patrick's Festival Becomes a Three-Day Event

In 1997, the Saint Patrick's Festival in Ireland expanded to become a three-day event, attracting more participants and tourists.

1998: Cross-Community St Patrick's Day Parades After the End of the Conflict

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

1999: Maple Leafs wear St Patrick's retro uniforms

In 1999, the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team wore green St Patrick's retro uniforms when they played on Saint Patrick's Day.

1999: Shortest St Patrick's Day Parade Started in Dripsey

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

1999: Yearly Saint Patrick's Day Festival Begins in Moscow

Since 1999, there has been a yearly "Saint Patrick's Day" festival in Moscow and other Russian cities, consisting of both an official military-style parade and an unofficial carnival-like parade.

2000: Saint Patrick's Day Parade Begins 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: Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade Begins in London

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

2004: CelticFest Vancouver Society Organised First Yearly Festival

In 2004, the CelticFest Vancouver Society organized its first yearly festival in downtown Vancouver to celebrate the Celtic Nations and their cultures. This event, which includes a parade, occurs each year during the weekend nearest Saint Patrick's Day.

2004: Hot Springs Hosted Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade

Since 2004, Hot Springs, Arkansas has hosted the shortest St. Patrick's Day parade, measuring at 98 feet.

2006: Saint Patrick's Day party held in Buenos Aires

In 2006, a Saint Patrick's Day party was held in Buenos Aires on Reconquista street, where there are several Irish pubs, with an estimated 50,000 attendees.

2006: St Patrick's Festival Expands to Five Days

In 2006, the Saint Patrick's Festival expanded to a five-day event, featuring concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and fireworks.

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 expressed concern about the secularisation of Saint Patrick's Day and called for it to be reclaimed as a church festival.

2007: Glasgow Holds First Saint Patrick's Day Parade and Festival

Since 2007, Glasgow has held a yearly Saint Patrick's Day parade and festival, reflecting its large Irish population due to immigration in the 19th century.

2008: Saint Patrick's Day Observed on March 15th

In 2008, Saint Patrick's Day was officially observed on March 15th to avoid it coinciding with Holy Week.

2008: Water in Trafalgar Square Fountains Dyed Green

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

March 2009: Calgary Tower Lights Go Green for Saint Patrick's Day

In March 2009, the Calgary Tower replaced its top exterior lights with green CFL bulbs for Saint Patrick's Day, representing environmental concerns as part of Project Porchlight. The change, involving approximately 210 lights, was estimated to save the Calgary Tower some $12,000 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 104 tonnes.

2009: Record Attendance at St Patrick's Day Parade

In 2009, more than 675,000 people attended the Saint Patrick's Day parade, and the festival saw almost 1 million visitors, highlighting the event's growth and popularity.

2010: Global Greening Initiative Launched

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

2010: Quebec City St-Patrick Parade Returned After More Than 84 Years

The Quebec City St-Patrick Parade returned in 2010 after more than 84 years. A portion of the New York Police Department Pipes and Drums were present as special guests.

2011: Catherine Coleman plays Irish music in space

On Saint Patrick's Day in 2011, Irish-American Catherine Coleman played a hundred-year-old flute belonging to Matt Molloy and a tin whistle belonging to Paddy Moloney, both members of The Chieftains, while floating weightless in the International Space Station.

2012: Skyfest Forms 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 release "Voice of Ages" album

In 2012, The Chieftains released their album, "Voice of Ages", which included a track called "The Chieftains in Orbit" featuring Catherine Coleman's performance on the International Space Station on Saint Patrick's Day in 2011.

2012: Catherine, Princess of Wales Presents Shamrock to Irish Guards

Since 2012, Catherine, Princess of Wales has presented bowls of shamrock to the Irish Guards, continuing the tradition.

2013: Chris Hadfield Celebrates 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 wearing green clothing in the space station online, and shared a recording of himself singing "Danny Boy" in space.

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2014: Moscow Irish Week Celebrated

In 2014, Moscow Irish Week was celebrated from March 12 to 23, which included Saint Patrick's Day on March 17. Over 70 events celebrating Irish culture were held in multiple cities, sponsored by various organizations.

2014: Ban on LGBTQ Groups Lifted in New York City Parades

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

2014: Campaign Against Negative Irish 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.

2015: Sarajevo Irish Festival Established

In 2015, the Irish expatriate community in Sarajevo established the Sarajevo Irish Festival, a three-day event around Saint Patrick's Day that includes a parade, theatre companies, film screenings, and concerts of Irish folk musicians.

2015: Ban on LGBTQ Groups Lifted in Boston Parades

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

2016: Duke of Cambridge Presents Shamrock to Irish Guards

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

2016: Sydney Parade Cancelled Due to Financial Problems

In 2016, the Saint Patrick's Day parade and family day in Sydney, Australia, was cancelled due to financial problems.

2017: Saint Patrick's Feast Day Added to 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 [O.S. 17 March].

2020: Brisbane's Saint Patrick's Day parade was not called off due to COVID-19

In 2020, Brisbane's Saint Patrick's Day parade was not called off as a precaution for the COVID-19 pandemic, in contrast to many other Saint Patrick's Day parades around the world.

2020: London's Saint Patrick's Day Parade Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

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

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.

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 Peacekeepers Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day 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 Held in Little Compton

Since 2022, the shortest Saint Paddy's Day parade has been held in Little Compton, Rhode Island, lasting only 89 feet.

2023: Police Discourage Street Party on Ezra Avenue

In 2023, police were seen putting up fences on Ezra Avenue in Waterloo, Ontario to discourage partiers from participating in an unauthorized Saint Patrick's Day street party that has cost the city as much as $750,000 a year for police, paramedics, and municipal services.