Every year when March 17 comes around, thousands of people across the United States dig out their green to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. But many people don’t really know where Saint Patrick’s Day originated from.

Shantelle Graft, ‘19, said, “I think that Saint Patrick’s originated from Spain.”

Ashlyn Coffman, ‘19, said, “I know this is probably wrong, but Germany.”  

The only answer that was close to accurate was Kylie Cox, ‘19. “It definitely started in Ireland,” she said.

Although Ireland seems as if it would be the correct answer, it is not. St. Patrick’s Day actually started in America. The Irish immigrants wanted a way to celebrate their roots when they came to America, so they decided to create a designated holiday for the Irish. They chose the day when Saint Patrick died.

All over the United States, many cities do different things to celebrate this holiday. In Chicago, IL, they dye Lake Michigan green. This started in 1962 when the city officials decided to dye the Chicago River green. After the river is turned green, a parade follows.

In Pittsburgh, MI, the city has a huge parade. This year the parade committee is expecting 23,000 people to show up. At the parade, there will be 200 marching units, bands, floats, and the crowning of Miss Smiling Irish Eyes.

Another city that participates in celebrating Saint Patrick’s day is New York, NY. New York has been hosting the world’s oldest and largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade every year since 1762. In addition to that, there are other traditional destinations to help you get more of a feel for the Irish heritage.

Although Dubuque, IA, doesn’t celebrate as much as other cities, people still participate in the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day.

Katie Kluesner, ‘20, says, “My family and I eat corn beef and cabbage, and my mom turns the milk green. A ‘leprechaun’ comes and flips over the chairs in our house and puts shamrocks all over.”

Another family that celebrates Saint Patrick’s is the Crahans. Caroline Crahan, ‘18, gives us a little insight  of what happens at her house during Saint Patrick’s Day.

“The leprechaun comes and makes all the food green in the house. My mom also has all of us wear green and makes us go to Irish pubs. We eat an Irish dinner, and my mom makes Irish food. Another thing we do is send out Saint Patrick’s Day cards instead of Christmas cards.”

Many people celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in different ways, from sending Saint Patrick’s Day cards to doing nothing at all. It all depends on one’s heritage and traditions.