On Thursday, March 17, many celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. St. Patty’s Day started as a religious feasting day for the patron saint of Ireland. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated as an international festival where the Irish culture is honored with sweet treats, parades, dancing, and more.

Patrick was a Romano-British Christian missionary in Ireland in the fifth century. Patrick was buried at Downpatrick when he died on March 17^th. St. Patrick’s Day has become an annual holiday with an abundance of celebratory activities. It is customary to wear green clothing, accessories, and shamrocks throughout the day.

Although St. Patrick’s Day originated in in Ireland, the “green” holiday is extremely popular in the United States. In New York City, the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a fun way to celebrate the holiday.

The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been occurring annually since 1762. In present day, this parade begins at 44^th Street and 5^th Avenue at 11 am, and travels up the avenue to 72^nd Street. At the parade, there is a sea of green in the Reviewing Stands. If you cannot make it to the parade, NBC New York will cover it.

In addition to parades, there are many Irish-inspired food products that individuals worldwide prepare on Saint Patrick’s Day. Corned beef with cabbage is a very popular St. Patrick’s Day meal. Irish Soda Bread is another St. Patrick’s Day treat. To add, chocolate stout cupcakes are a very well known St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

In Bergen County, there are many restaurants where you can celebrate this holiday. Harley’s Irish Pub in Hackensack New Jersey is known to have the most delicious corn beef and cabbage in the region, in addition to traditional Irish music.

Also, Tommy Fox’s Public House in Bergenfield is another restaurant where there is live traditional Irish music, in addition to dancing. There will be many Irish dancers at the restaurant on Saint’s Patrick Day that you can watch as you eat the tasty food that Tommy Fox’s Public House will be serving.

Not only is St. Patrick’s Day a special day for Irish treats, but it is also a special day for activities geared towards the Irish culture. On Saturday, March 19^th, it is only twenty dollars to walk and take tours of New York City’s “Little Ireland” district that begins at St. Paul’s Chapel in the Financial District.

This tour will teach you about how Irish immigrants impacted New York City, in addition to observing all the beauties of the Irish culture that is offered on this walking tour. After taking this tour, you will have a great understanding of why St. Patrick’s Day is extremely popular in New York City.

As you celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, be sure to enjoy all of the festivities, but remember the history of the holiday and how it originated.