Things you want to know about St. Patricks Day
A Brief History
St Patrick's day is a holiday that originated in Ireland. It is the feast day and anniversary of death of St Patrick, who is said to have died in the late 400's. St Patrick was a Christian missionary who recieves credit for the Christianization of Ireland and for driving all the snakes out of Ireland.
The 'driving out of snakes' is probably a metaphor, since there is no evidence there ever were any snakes in Ireland. The 'snakes' were probably those who opposed the adoption of Christianity, perhaps people of other religions who lived there. His death date and feast date are celebrated on March 17.
Businesses are closed for St. Patrick's day in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is recognized in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada but is not an official holiday.
Traditions
The Green Invisibility Shield
Did you know that blue was originally the colour of St Patrick's day? Over time, St Patrick's day became more than a saint's feast day and became a transcontinental celebration of Irish Culture. As part of that shift, the colour green, which is associated with the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through their flag and the popular conception of Ireland as 'the emerald isle'.
Did you get pinched as a kid? I know it was big during the baby boom era (ahem) to pinch people who weren’t wearing green on March 17. Wearing green on St Patrick's day was thought to make a person invisible to leprechauns, who would pinch anyone they could see. The practice of pinching a person not wearing green on the holiday is thought to have started in the US in the 1700s as a playful reminder to wear green to avoid the pinch of the leprechaun.
The shamrock, or three leaf clover is a symbol of Ireland and an Irish Catholic symbol of their Holy Trinity. The four leaf clover is a three leaf clover with an extra leaf, making it especially lucky.
Politics & Parades
For years, the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade (the Richmond County Parade) was the center of a heated debate because its organizers refused to let LGBTQ+ groups march under their own banners. The committee argued that because the holiday had Catholic roots, it should not include "sexual identification agendas." This led to a long-standing boycott by city leaders, including former Mayor Bill de Blasio, and created a deep divide in the community where many felt excluded from their own neighborhood’s traditions.
Because of this ongoing ban, local business owners and residents eventually took matters into their own hands and created the Forest Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This "alternate" parade was launched in 2024 with the full support of the city and was designed specifically to be inclusive of everyone. It gave LGBTQ+ groups like the Pride Center of Staten Island a chance to celebrate Irish heritage openly, and it became a popular symbol of how the community was ready to move past the old rules of exclusion.
While Staten Island struggled with these changes, the massive Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day Parade—the oldest and largest in the world—had already broken its own ban much earlier. In 2014, Manhattan organizers decided to allow LGBTQ+ groups to march under their own banners for the first time, starting in 2015. This historic move by the world's most famous Irish parade put a lot of pressure on the smaller parades in other boroughs to follow suit and join the modern era of inclusivity.
Everything finally came together in 2025. After a shake-up in leadership, the traditional Staten Island parade committee officially invited the Pride Center of Staten Island to march, and on March 2, 2025, the ban was finally over. This historic march brought the borough back together, making separate "alternate" parades unnecessary. Now, in 2026, the community celebrates as one, with all groups marching together down Forest Avenue in a single, unified event.
The 2026 parade on Staten Island took place earlier this month on March 1st. The main St. Patrick's Day Parade in Manhattan is happening Tuesday, March 17th.
Closer to home
Canada has several major St. Patrick's Day parades, including one that is actually the oldest in the country and one of the largest in North America. For 2026 the parades are:
Toronto: Sunday, March 15 - The Toronto St. Patrick's Parade is one of the largest in the country.
Montreal: Sunday, March 22 - Montreal’s parade is legendary; it has been held every year since 1824, making it the oldest continuously running St. Patrick's Day parade in North America (after New York).
Quebec City: Saturday, March 28 - Quebec City holds its parade a bit later in the month, making it a great option if you want to extend the celebrations.
What about Vancouver?
Vancouver does not have a traditional parade anymore; the official parade was cancelled after 2016 due to funding and logistics. However, you can still catch plenty of "parade-adjacent" energy this weekend:
Join the Vancouver Queer Irish at the Junction March 14 for St. Paddy’s Gay celebrations. Click here to learn more
CelticFest Vancouver: The festival is currently running (March 13–15). Sunday, March 15, there is a Family Day at the Art Gallery North Plaza from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM with live music, dancers, and market vendors.
St. Patrick's Day Drag Brunch: Sunday, March 15 at 11:00 AM at the Ventura Room (695 Cambie St).
Victoria: If you're heading to the Island, Victoria is holding its St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Sunday, March 15.