Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Contrary to the commercial perception, today is much more than green beer and long lines (but don’t worry, DCist is always good for drinking tips for all occasions). Traditionally in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday commemorating the country’s patron saint, a 5th century bishop who is credited with bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. In fact, before 1995 pubs were closed by law in Ireland on the day.

The holiday, however, takes on a slightly different flavor in the U.S. St. Patrick’s Day got its start as America’s celebration of Irish heritage back in the 18th century when Irish soldiers in the English army marched through New York City on the date. A century later when poorer, less-educated Irish Catholics spilled onto our shores as a result of the potato blight and the country’s economic depression, the day took on a deeper meaning for the new world. A day focusing on Irish-American identity and celebrating Irish heritage.

Today St. Patrick Day celebrations typically highlight Irish music and dancing with parades and festivals, and of course there is the green beer variety of party. You may hear people poo-poo the day as a commercialized take on the religious holiday, but for the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is more about Irish identity than religion. In fact, most of the St. Patrick Day customs we share are Irish-American derived, rather than coming directly from the land of leprechauns.

Want to join in the celebrations? Irish-for-a-day applications are always accepted on March 17! You can always swing by your local Irish pub and toast Eire with a pint o’ the dark stuff, but if you’d like to be a little more creative and get more to the heart of Irish America, DCist will help you out with a few traditions.