While spring break may be a holiday for students, there is an official holiday happening during break as well! Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17th, this year on a Tuesday. Celebrations include wearing green, parades, clovers, and much more, but where exactly did these originate from? 

Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious and cultural holiday originating from Ireland. It celebrates the death of the patron saint, Saint Patrick, on March 17th, 461 AD. It marks the role he played in bringing Christianity to Ireland. What originally was a local religious feast day in Ireland has now spread to a global scale, with major celebrations of Irish heritage seen around the world. These traditions especially grew in America due to the large-scale Irish immigration in the early 1700s. 

Some of the best parts of holidays are the traditions associated with them. For Christmas the presents, for Halloween the candy, and for Saint Patrick’s the leprechauns. Leprechauns are tied into Irish folklore and have become a mascot for the holiday. They are what inspired the tradition of wearing green during the holiday since according to folklore, wearing green makes you invisible to Leprechauns, who pinch anyone they can see. This is why green is such a prominent color for decorations, such as the Chicago River dying the water green every year. Another symbol associated with the holiday, a three leaf shamrock, represents the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Saint Patrick would use the three leaf shamrocks as he spread Christianity throughout Ireland. On the other hand, a four leaf clover isn’t necessarily associated with Saint Patrick, but instead is seen as a symbol of good luck. A holiday isn’t complete without some food either! During Saint Patrick’s Day, many people tend to eat corned bread, cabbage, and other Irish dishes to celebrate Irish heritage. 

An upcoming event to look forward to this break is the Shamrock Shakedown: St. Paddy’s Day Block Party in Downtown Sanford! This party is happening on Saturday, March 14th, and goes from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Make sure to look forward to live bands performing, food trucks, vendors with a variety of goods, a kids zone, and much more. The celebration doesn’t just end at 9 p.m., the party will be moved indoors to West End Trading Co. and Celery City Craft.

Sanford isn’t the only town celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day March 14th, Oviedo is holding their own event at Center Lake Park from 4 p.m to 9 p.m as well. They will feature live Irish music, dancers, stilt walkers, face painting, food trucks, photo booths, balloon artists, and more! If you are able to attend any of these local events, it means supporting the community and the local businesses that make it possible.

Another event for the holiday is downtown Winter Park’s 47th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Though this event has already happened, on March 7th, it was an amazing celebration! It features colorful floats, marching groups, community sponsors, and much more. Even though the parade has ended, you can still visit the area which is sure to be decorated for the occasion! Plan ahead and expect Winter Park to be just as busy on the day of this major holiday. 

With Saint Patrick’s Day being less than a week away, make sure you wear green and celebrate this holiday in whichever way you can. Have a lucky day and go noles!