saint patrick's day
C1Formal to informal; widely used in both official/ceremonial contexts and casual conversation.
Definition
Meaning
An annual religious and cultural holiday celebrated on March 17th, commemorating Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
A celebration of Irish heritage and culture, marked globally with public parades, festivals, the wearing of green attire, and the consumption of traditional food and drink, particularly Irish stout. It is both a religious feast day in some denominations and a secular celebration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term functions as a proper noun. It references a specific historical/religious figure and a fixed calendar date. It is often shortened to 'St. Patrick's Day' or, informally in speech, to 'St. Paddy's Day' (note: 'Paddy' is derived from the Irish 'Pádraig', and using 'Patty' is considered incorrect and offensive by many).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differences are minor (see IPA). The holiday is widely celebrated in both regions, but public parades and festivities in the UK (outside Northern Ireland) are generally less extensive than in major US cities with large Irish diaspora populations.
Connotations
In Ireland and the UK, it retains stronger religious and national connotations. In the US, the cultural and festive connotations, especially those related to public celebration and Irish-American identity, are often more prominent.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties as the holiday name.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] celebrates/observes Saint Patrick's Day.The [event/parade] is held for/on Saint Patrick's Day.We are going to the parade for Saint Patrick's Day.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Wearin' o' the green”
- “Erin go bragh (Ireland forever) - often heard on this day”
- “Drowning the shamrock (having a drink) - dated”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The pub will have extended hours and a special menu for Saint Patrick's Day."
Academic
"The paper examines the evolution of Saint Patrick's Day from a religious feast to a global celebration of Irish diaspora identity."
Everyday
"Are you doing anything for Saint Patrick's Day this year?"
Technical
Not applicable in a technical sense; used in historical, cultural, or religious studies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- "We always Saint Patrick's Day with a family meal and maybe a pint." (informal, rare as verb)
American English
- "The whole city Saint Patrick's Days like nowhere else." (informal, rare as verb)
adjective
British English
- The Saint Patrick's Day parade in London draws large crowds.
American English
- She bought a new Saint Patrick's Day sweater covered in shamrocks.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Saint Patrick's Day is on March 17.
- People wear green on Saint Patrick's Day.
- We are going to watch the big Saint Patrick's Day parade in the city centre.
- Many restaurants offer traditional Irish food for Saint Patrick's Day.
- Despite its religious origins, Saint Patrick's Day has become a largely secular celebration of Irish culture worldwide.
- The scale of the Saint Patrick's Day festivities in Chicago, where they dye the river green, is astonishing.
- The transnational commodification of Saint Patrick's Day has been critiqued for diluting its authentic cultural and religious significance.
- His thesis explored how Saint Patrick's Day parades in 19th-century America served as a platform for Irish immigrants to assert their political identity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: Saint PATRICK's Day. PATRICK contains 'PAT' - think of the patron saint PATting Ireland on the back. The date is March 17, which is easy to recall as it's close to the middle of the month.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DAY IS A CONTAINER FOR CULTURE/IDENTITY (e.g., 'The day is filled with Irish pride.'); GREEN IS IRISHNESS (e.g., 'The city turns green for the parade.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct calque like *День Святого Патрика (Den' Svyatogo Patrika) unless the established Russian name is confirmed. In many Russian texts, the English name is used or it is translated as День святого Патрика, which is acceptable.
- Do not confuse with other saints' days (e.g., St. Valentine's Day).
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: Confusing *Saint Patricks Day (missing apostrophe) or *St. Patrick Day (missing possessive 's).
- Terminology: Using 'Patty's Day' instead of 'Paddy's Day'. 'Patty' refers to a burger or a female name, not to Patrick.
- Capitalization: Failing to capitalise 'Saint', 'Patrick's', and 'Day'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common and correct informal abbreviation for Saint Patrick's Day?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. It is widely celebrated but not an official public holiday in the US, UK, or most other countries.
Green is linked to Ireland, often called the 'Emerald Isle'. It became associated with the day through the use of shamrocks (which are green) and the green in the Irish flag. Historically, blue was also associated with St. Patrick.
The correct form is St. Patrick's Day (with an apostrophe + s). It is the day belonging to Saint Patrick, hence the possessive.
'St. Paddy's Day' is the correct informal abbreviation, as 'Paddy' is a common Irish diminutive for Patrick (from the Irish 'Pádraig'). 'St. Patty's Day' is considered incorrect and often offensive to the Irish, as 'Patty' is a diminutive for the female name Patricia or refers to a burger.