St.
Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's
most widely known figures.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March
17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death
in the fifth century.
The Irish have observed this day as a
religious holiday for thousands of years. |
|
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally
been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish
laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17.
Beginning in 1995,
however, the Irish government began a national campaign to
use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and
showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close
to one million people took part in Ireland
's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration
featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and
fireworks shows. |
