This week we will commemorate Ireland's patron saint, but rest assured we are not alone in our celebrations. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world, in over 190 countries, the obvious places being Ireland, the US, Canada and Australia!
With New York being the first additional place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 1762 and Ireland being its origins, the folks over at Irishshop.com were interested to see how the rest of the world celebrated St Patrick’s Day.
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Did you know Savannah, Georgia hosts the second biggest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the United States?
The following countries are worth considering to celebrate St Patrick's Day, if freezing your behind off on O’Connell Street or 5th Avenue while waiting for the parade, isn’t your idea of fun.
Singapore, Asia
Singapore is definitely a place that anyone would love for St. Patrick's Day. Each year the St. Patrick's society of Singapore organizes an event in the Shangri-La hotel offering free-flowing wine, beer, and live music.
If the Shangri-La is a little out of your budget, no sweat. Singaporeans love to celebrate on the 17th. You will find the Singapore river dyed green and a parade that is led by a Harley Davidson convoy.
Cabo Roig, Spain
The picturesque town of Cabo Roig Spain hosts the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in Spain. The bars and restaurants don their best green decor, and host Irish entertainment with a Spanish twist.
Fancy a bit of Irish Dancing or perhaps flamenco on Paddy’s Day? Well in Cabo Roig, you can have both! Celebrations spill over well into the night with a fireworks display to finish off the festivities.
Accra, Ghana:
In 2010 Ghana began to celebrate St. Patricks Day making it the newest official celebration of the 17th. Forget the rain, Accra in Ghana celebrate St Patrick's Day in the relaxing ocean retreat sipping cocktails and enjoying the nice sea breeze!
Irish aid workers will use the funds raised to help bring water to rural villages. The main culinary delicacy paying homage to St. Patrick in Ghana is the “grilled beef steak marinated in whiskey”!
Montserrat, Caribbean
The beautiful Emerald Isle of Caribbean Island is home to just 5,000 people. Montserrat is the only country in the world aside from Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is declared a public holiday. The 17th of March is so widely celebrated in Montserrat to pay homage to its Afro-Irish culture.
In the 1600s many Irish were shipped to Montserrat against their will and there they stayed. The tiny Caribbean island is drenched in history and folklore just like its Irish counterpart. On the 17th you can sing, dance, drink green beer as well as traditional rum punch. Many of the locals will be wearing traditional dress with green being the dominant color.
Tokyo, Japan
The INJ (Irish Network Japan) set up the first St. Patricks Day parade in 1992. Since then the parade has shown that the people of Tokyo love a bit of Irish.
Last year the parade in Omotesando had over 15,000 participants with over 50,000 spectators. Everyone comes out in their best green clothing they can find. The parade is filled with Irish dancers, bagpipes and “Voucher Girls”. Not surprisingly these are a main highlight as these pretty Japanese girls carry vouchers for free booze.
Florence, Italy
Ever felt that one day of drinking and eating wasn’t enough for St Patricks Day? Well in Florence you can celebrate from the 17th right up until the 22nd at the Irish Festival or “Festa Irelandes” as it is called in Florence, Italy.
In honour of good ol’ St. Patrick himself, you can celebrate days of live music, food and drink. If you are looking for a truly Irish-Italian experience get yourself to Finnegan's bar.
But are they better than Ireland?
There might be places around the world that could possibly sound better than Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but can they beat the authenticity and experience of celebrating it in Ireland?
It cannot be denied that on St. Patrick's Day everyone feels a little bit Irish, but think about it is there anywhere in the world you rather be than on the beautiful Emerald Isle?
So What Does Ireland Feel Like On St. Patrick's Day?
The craic being absolute 90 (so they say), everyone is dressed in their best greens with shamrocks pinned to their coats. Find yourself sitting in a small cozy pub drinking the finest pint of Guinness you have ever tasted, music and song flowing through the air, bodhráns, Irish dancers and the Wolfe Tones being sung by crowds of proud Irish as if their songs were the National Anthem.
It’s no wonder everyone wants to be a little bit Irish on the 17th!
It will resonate with you that yes other countries may be sunny and warm, they may have lots of their own traditions but there really is nowhere like Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day.
How Irish Are You?
A big thank you to the good folks at the Irish Shop for putting together this little round up of Irish celebrations around the world.
They have a fun quiz on their site asking "How Irish Are You?", and I am happy to report I am officially 100% Irish. I passed with flying colors, or should I say with flying green colors.
Here are some other stories about all things Irish and Irish American that you might enjoy.
Planning Saint Patrick's Day On A Budget
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Here are some other recipes and ramblings you might enjoy...
Where To Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day In Ireland
What The Irish Eat For Saint Patrick's Day
Fruit Rainbow for Saint Patrick's Day
Barbara Alldis
Ah nostalgia. Growing up in Canada in an Irish/English family I remember a pot of shamrocks and a pot of mutton stew as a child. When I got older and went to nursing school, we student nurses were invited to ride in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Montreal. And I always had a green dress or sweater to be wearin' on that day. Thanks so much for the memories!
Irish American Mom
Hi Barbara - You grew up eating real Irish stew on St. Patrick's Day. Mutton stew is the most traditional of all the Irish stews, not the beef and Guinness stews we see more often these days. I'm so glad this post reminded you of happy days gone by. And I'm glad to hear you always wore green for the Montreal parade.
Best wishes, and happy St. Patrick's Day.
Mairéad
Irishnannie
What fun info! That Montserrat story is something i' ve never heard before!
Thank you, Mairead*!
Love the coat of arms!
Sharon
Mairead, Loved all the info on how St. Patrick's day is celebrated around the world. Took the quiz and I am 90% Irish
Sharon
Irish American Mom
Hi Sharon - Well done on your Irish quiz. I enjoyed this information too. It surprised me to learn how far afield Ireland and St. Patrick are celebrated every year. It's a global phenomenon for sure.
Best wishes, and have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.
Mairéad
Miriam Salvemini
Hello Mairéad....In the early 1960's my grandmother in Dublin would post live shamrock badges replete with the green/white/orange colors to her New Jersey grandchildren. They would usually arrive wilted, but nonetheless, my brother and I wore them to school with our uniforms. No "kiss me I'm Irish" t-shirts allowed in our household, EVER!!!
Happy St. Patrick's Day, and thank you for your posts.
Irish American Mom
Wearing shamrock on our jackets or St. Patrick's Day badges was such a part of my Irish childhood too. Lovely to hear your granny sent shamrock all the way across the Atlantic. Wilted or not, I'm sure you wore it with deep Irish pride.
Thanks so much for following my ramblings, and joining our little discussions on all things Irish.
Have a lovely St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.
Mairéad
brian@irelandfavorites
Corned beef caldron is simmering away as the American Boston version of St. Patricks day has started, just a mere 4 hours or so till that tender brisket is ready, add 40 or 50 of your closest friends, with Luke Kelly, Paddy Reilly, or the Ivy leaf on the cd player and maybe a few old fat guys singing as well. Phew it took effort to write such a run-on sentence.
Happy St. Paddy's Day to all
Irish American Mom
Happy corned beef and cabbage day, Brian. You're a brave man cooking for 40 to 50 people. Enjoy your day, and I love your selection of music for your guests.
Happy St. Paddy's Day to your and yours too.
Mairéad
☘☘☘☘☘☘