What is the significance of St. Patrick's Day?

I'm aware of St. Patrick being the patron saint of Ireland and all, but is really a religious observation or just a cultural one?



There seems to be alot of green/ shamrock wearing and heavy drinking, but the significance of the day, other than getting together and partying because you're 'Irish' escapes me. Clue me in.

What is the significance of St. Patrick's Day?
It is the feast day of St. Patrick. All saints have feast days. Being that he is the patron saint of Ireland, it has become a cultural celebration day.



Ireland was (at one time) mostly religious and mostly Catholic. So the entire nation celebrated St. Patrick's Day as a religious one. It has grown in to the popular drinking, green wearing day it is now and (much like Christmas) lost any resemblance to the religious significance it once held.



March 17th is the day that St. Patrick is believed to have died. He was a pagan and then became a Christian and a great saint. He is believed to have driven the snakes out of Ireland.



He wrote books and prayers. He was truly a saint and people would do well to remember this.
Reply:When we think of this holiday, we think of green and yet the color of St. Patrick is actually blue. Green came into the picture and started to be associated with this celebration in the 19th century. The color green in Irish legends was the color worn by fairies and immortals and the color worn by people to encourage crops to grow. Even today, when we think of green, we think of springtime, new life and new growth.
Reply:Its the day on which St.Patrick cuts his Birthday cake every year.
Reply:St. Patrick brought Catholicism into Ireland where alot of the population practised Paganism. So it is a religious holiday which sadly society has taken and stereotyping the Irish as alcoholics. But it's good to have a good few drinks!!! ; )
Reply:It's more of a cultural one. In Ireland, St. Paddy's day is more solemn than over here. Of course, we all still drink beer. Since we have a lot of Irish decedents in the US, it is only natural that some of their customs would be carried over, including the observing of their most important saint. Americanized, it is the St. Patrick's Day that we all know.
Reply:St.Patrick's Day
Reply:to celebrate the Catholic church, destroying another mans religion. the Celtic/druid religion.
Reply:Here's a link which will help you out. The shamrock is important because it is said that St. Patrick taught people about Trinity by using a shamrock as a visual guide.
Reply:One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.
Reply:It's the day that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.