No. Well, maybe. It depends entirely on when you're looking at your screen, but for the vast majority of you asking is St Patricks Day today, the answer is a simple "not yet" or "you just missed it."
Unless it is currently March 17th, you are safe from being pinched.
Saint Patrick’s Day is a fixed-date holiday. Unlike Thanksgiving or Easter, which wander around the calendar like a lost tourist in Temple Bar, St. Paddy's sits firmly on March 17 every single year. It’s the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, marking the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how a religious observation for a Roman-British missionary turned into a global excuse to dye entire rivers neon green and consume record-breaking amounts of stout.
Why Everyone Gets Confused About the Date
You've probably felt that weird internal panic. You see a Shamrock Shake ad or a display of green plastic hats at the grocery store and suddenly think, "Wait, did I miss it?"
Part of the confusion stems from the "observed" calendar. Because the holiday is such a massive engine for the hospitality industry, cities with huge Irish lineages—think Boston, Chicago, Savannah, and New York—often host their massive parades on the weekend before or after the actual date. If March 17 falls on a Tuesday, the party usually starts the Friday before. This creates a week-long "green zone" where it feels like the holiday is happening constantly.
There is one rare exception to the March 17 rule, though it doesn't change the public celebration. The Catholic Church occasionally moves the liturgical feast day if it clashes with Holy Week. For example, back in 2008, the religious observance was moved to March 14 because March 17 was Monday of Holy Week. But let’s be real: the pubs didn't move their inventory, and the parades didn't budge. For the rest of the world, the date remains static.
The Chicago River and Other Large-Scale Logistics
If you’re checking the date because you want to see the Chicago River turn emerald, you have to be precise. The dyeing of the river usually happens on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. If March 17 is a Saturday, you're in luck. If it’s a Thursday? You better be there the previous weekend.
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People travel from all over the world for this. The dye itself is actually a vegetable-based powder that starts out orange. It’s a secret formula, but we know it's environmentally friendly. It's fascinating how a tradition that started with plumbers using dye to track illegal waste discharges turned into a global bucket-list event.
What People Get Wrong About Saint Patrick
He wasn't actually Irish.
That’s the big one. Maewyn Succat—his birth name—was born in Roman Britain. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was a teenager and spent six years in captivity as a shepherd. He eventually escaped, went home, became a priest, and then—in a move that shows incredible guts—went back to Ireland to convert the people who had enslaved him.
And the snakes? Total myth.
Ireland never had snakes. The post-glacial climate was too cold for them to migrate across the land bridge from mainland Europe. Most historians agree that "snakes" was a metaphor for the pagan druid rituals that Patrick was supposedly "driving out" of the country.
The Evolution of the Party
If you’re asking is St Patricks Day today because you want to celebrate, you’re participating in a tradition that actually evolved more in America than in Ireland.
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For centuries, St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland was a quiet, religious holiday. The pubs were actually closed by law on March 17 until the 1970s. It was a day for church and family. It was the Irish diaspora in the United States—specifically in New York and Boston—that turned it into a massive display of political and cultural pride. The first recorded St. Patrick's Day parade didn't even happen in Ireland; it happened in what is now St. Augustine, Florida, in 1601, organized by an Irish vicar named Ricardo Artur.
Why the Green?
Blue was actually the original color associated with Saint Patrick. You can still see "St. Patrick’s Blue" on old Irish flags and even the presidential standard of Ireland. The shift to green happened during the 1798 Irish Rebellion, when wearing the clover and the color green became a symbol of nationalism against the British crown. "The Wearing of the Green" became a literal anthem for rebellion.
Planning for the Actual Day
If today isn't March 17, you have time to prepare. Don't just buy a "Kiss Me I’m Irish" shirt and call it a day.
- Check the Parade Schedule: If you live in a major city, the "big" event is almost certainly not on the 17th unless it's a weekend.
- The Food: Corned beef and cabbage is an Irish-American invention. In Ireland, the traditional meal would be more like bacon (back bacon) and cabbage. Corned beef was a cheaper substitute found by Irish immigrants in New York delis.
- The Music: Look for local trad sessions. There is nothing like hearing a live tin whistle and bodhrán in a packed room.
Essentially, the holiday is a celebration of resilience. It's about a culture that survived famine, mass emigration, and centuries of conflict, yet managed to export its joy to every corner of the globe.
The Financial Impact
It’s big business. We’re talking billions of dollars spent globally on everything from Guinness to cabbage. In the U.S. alone, the National Retail Federation consistently reports spending upwards of $5 billion to $7 billion on the holiday. It’s a massive day for the "Black Stuff"—Guinness sales usually soar from an average of 5.5 million pints a day to over 13 million pints on St. Patrick’s Day.
How to Celebrate Without Being a Cliche
If you want to do it right, look beyond the green beer. Green beer is, frankly, a bit much. It stains your teeth and doesn't taste great.
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Instead, try a real Irish stout or a pour of Jameson or Redbreast. Learn a few words of Irish (Gaeilge). Saying "Sláinte" (pronounced slawn-cha) instead of "Cheers" goes a long way. It means "health."
Research your family history if you have Irish roots. The Great Famine triggered a massive wave of emigration that fundamentally changed the demographics of the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia. Most "Irish" people today actually live outside of Ireland.
Final Verdict on the Date
Check your calendar right now.
If it says March 17, then yes, is St Patricks Day today is a resounding yes. Put on something green, find some soda bread, and enjoy the atmosphere.
If it is any other day of the year, you are just an early bird (or very late).
To be fully prepared for the next one, your best move is to verify the local parade dates for your specific city immediately. Most municipal websites post these schedules in January. If you're planning to visit Dublin for the festival, you need to book hotels at least six months in advance, as the city reaches 100% capacity. Also, remember that while the world parties, March 17 remains a public holiday in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Montserrat.
Next Steps for Your Celebration:
- Mark March 17 in your digital calendar with a recurring yearly alert so you never have to Google this again.
- Locate your nearest Irish pub and check their specific event calendar; many host ticketed events that sell out weeks before the 17th.
- Buy your Guinness or Irish whiskey at least three days early to avoid the "raided shelf" syndrome at local liquor stores.
- Confirm the "Saturday before" date if you live near Chicago, Savannah, or New York, as these cities hold their primary festivities then.
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