When you think of Saint Patrick’s Day, many things may come to mind, such as gold, leprechauns, and rainbows. Although some of these symbols relate to the history behind the holiday, the original background of Saint Patrick and the purpose of the traditions go deeper than that.

Saint Patrick’s Day is actually a religious and cultural celebration commemorating the feast day of Saint Patrick. Patrick was a 5th century Christian missionary and Bishop in Ireland. He was allegedly kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave when he was just 16 years old. He escaped from slavery after being given orders in a dream from God to flee to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home to England. Because Patrick was allowed to come back to England, he started believing in Christ and became a priest where he could spread the word of God. It was not long before he went back to Ireland to spread Christianity. Saint Patrick influenced many people to convert to Christianity throughout Ireland and England. After his death, the Church named him the Patron Saint of Ireland and honored him with a feast day on March 17.

While the color green is synonymous with the holiday now, it was not until 1798, the year of the Irish Rebellion, that the color green became officially associated with the day. Up until the rebellion, the color associated with St. Patrick was actually blue, as it was featured both in the royal court and on ancient Irish flags. While the British wore red, the Irish chose to wear green during the rebellion, and this cemented the color’s relevance in Irish history. It also is customary for people to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day because of the holiday’s association with Ireland’s nickname, the “Emerald Isle.” Following tradition, you get pinched on St. Patrick’s Day for not wearing green because according to folklore, green makes you invisible to leprechauns.

One of the most common symbols of St. Patrick’s Day is the leprechaun. Belief in leprechauns likely stems from Celtic belief in fairies, which are tiny men and women who use their magical powers to serve good or evil. According to Irish lore, capturing these small creatures will secure the captor a little bit of luck, in addition to three wishes. Another common symbol of the holiday is the shamrock. The shamrock was considered a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 17th century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Today, more than 200 countries celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. These celebrations mostly involve parades, parties, wearing green, and traditional Irish meals like corned beef and cabbage.

There are many different traditions in the U.S. and around the world to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day. In Portland, Maine, locals have a Paddy’s Day Plunge which involves jumping into the freezing Atlantic Ocean at 5:30am. There are many cities that dye their waterways or landmarks green for St. Patrick’s Day. Chicago’s green river is one of the most famous examples of this. Every year, the Chicago River turns green just in time for a parade held on the closest Saturday to the holiday. In Brussels, Belgium, people honor the saint by playing Irish sports such as Gaelic football and hurling, and even hold a St. Patrick’s Day Ball. Banwen, Wales has laid claim to being St. Patrick’s birthplace, and the city ritualizes it annually by holding a parade that culminates at a stone commemorating the saint’s alleged birthplace.

Saint Patrick’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated all around the world. It is a day filled with honoring Irish heritage, wearing green, mythical creatures like leprechauns, rainbows, and shamrocks, but most importantly it is a day that honors Saint Patrick and his life.