Who St. Patrick was
St. Patrick’s Day, on March 17, is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Patrick was a Christian missionary in Ireland in the fifth century, and March 17 is the day traditionally observed in his memory. According to tradition, he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Christian idea of the Trinity, which is why the shamrock became the symbol of the day.
How it is celebrated
In Ireland it is a public holiday. Elsewhere it has grown into a celebration of Irish culture, especially in countries with large Irish communities such as Canada and the United States. People wear green, parades are held in many cities, and pubs and restaurants often plan special menus and live music. In Alberta it is not a statutory holiday, so most people are at work or school during the day.
The date
March 17 is fixed. It does not follow the moon or a weekday, so there is no rule to work out. The date often falls within Lent, the weeks before Easter, and when it lands on a weekday organisers frequently hold their parades on the nearest weekend, so check local listings for the actual event day. This countdown ends at the first moment of March 17 on your device’s clock.
A date in the middle of March
St. Patrick’s Day falls a few days before the spring equinox, which arrives on March 19, 20 or 21, so it is often one of the first festive dates after a long Canadian winter. Daylight saving time in most of Canada begins on the second Sunday of March, so the clocks have already moved forward by the time the day arrives. The countdown follows those clock changes on its own: it is exact, and it reaches zero when March 17 begins.
Counting down to the day
Heading to a parade or a party? The countdown timer can time a start and the clock helps with the schedule. If you run a club or a pub, you can embed a countdown on your own page. The next big date on the calendar is Easter, which always arrives within about six weeks of March 17, and Valentine’s Day comes about a month earlier.
More countdowns
Need a different date? Use the countdown to any date or count up with time since a date.
Questions
What date is St. Patrick’s Day this year?
St. Patrick’s Day is always March 17. The countdown above always shows the next one, so it is right for the current year without any lookup. Only the weekday changes from year to year, which can move where local parades are held.
Is St. Patrick’s Day a holiday in Canada?
It is not a statutory holiday in Alberta, and offices and schools are normally open. In Ireland it is a public holiday. Many Canadian cities hold parades and events, often on the nearest weekend.
Why do people wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?
Green is closely associated with Ireland, often called the Emerald Isle, and with the shamrock. Wearing it has become the easiest way to join in, and many parades and events are decorated in green from start to finish.
Why does the shamrock go with St. Patrick?
According to tradition, Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity, the Christian teaching of three persons in one God. Whether or not the story is literally true, the shamrock has been tied to him and to Ireland for a very long time.