By Julia Kelley

From enjoying Irish cuisine to celebrating local history, countries across the globe from Argentina to Malaysia celebrate their relationship with Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York. James Felder. CC BY 2.0.

Every year on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day marks the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has become synonymous with a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, usually identified by customary symbols of shamrocks, leprechauns and the color green. While the day began as a uniquely Irish tradition, celebrations outside of the country have grown in popularity, as foreign countries honor their history with Ireland. What results is a cultural mixing and blending of Irish celebrations, like kilt-wearing or Celtic dancing, with local religious and historical traditions. Around the world, Irish heritage is celebrated as a pillar of cultural appreciation.

The Green River in Chicago. R Boed. CC BY 2.0.

1. The United States

St. Patrick’s Day is not only widely observed across the United States but is one of the country’s largest annual celebrations. Since its introduction to the U.S. by Irish soldiers in the 18th century, St. Patrick’s Day has been marked by a series of traditional Irish emblems: shamrocks, parades and the color green. The city of Chicago upholds a particularly strong Irish appreciation. Cook County, which includes Chicago, has the largest population of Irish Americans in the U.S. Chicago’s famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade was first held in 1843 and has since become one of the largest parades in the country, featuring the city’s premier Irish band wearing green kilts and colorful floats adorned with Irish flags. Even more famous is the annual dyeing of the Chicago River. Beginning in 1962, city workers have traditionally dumped hundreds of pounds of green dye into the downtown Chicago River, turning the water a vibrant emerald hue. Originally beginning as part of an effort to clean up the river, the tradition stuck and has been a favored celebration ever since. New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is another famous U.S. custom that finds its roots in 1762, before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, it is a hallmark of Irish appreciation in the country and remains a celebration of cultural pride.

Irish Pub in Buenos Aires. Marcelo Campi. CC BY-SA 3.0.

2. Argentina

South of the U.S., one can also find lively St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Argentina. Currently, about half a million people of Irish descent reside in the country, the fifth largest Irish diaspora population in the world. Moreover, Argentina is Ireland’s oldest Latin American ally, with the first South American Irish Embassy opening in Buenos Aires in 1948. As such, strong cultural and historical ties link the two countries, with Buenos Aires demonstrating one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Latin America. Featuring vibrant festivities, the main event takes place along the Avenida de Mayo, where visitors can enjoy various Irish foods and drinks, Celtic music and Irish dancing. Nighttime celebrations come alive through “La Noche Verde,” where parades and music continue long after sunset. Celebrants can also patronize the city’s long-standing Irish pubs, such as DownTown Matías, John John and The Kilkenny. However, no matter where or how one commemorates the day, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Argentina are a festive reminder of the country’s cherished connection with Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Mexico City. Flama23. CC BY-SA 4.0.

3. Mexico

Mexico has a long and respected history with Ireland, rooted in diplomatic, economic and cultural exchanges dating back to the Mexican-American War. Irish American soldiers played an important role in this battle, fighting on Mexico’s side in Saint Patrick’s Battalion. These Irish immigrant fighters saw a mutual struggle with the Mexican army, recognizing the threat to Mexico’s land and rights as a mirror for their own hardships at home. Ever since, Mexico has regarded St. Patrick’s Day as a time to commemorate and honor these soldiers. Spanning over the month of March, Mexico City holds San Patricio Fest Mexico, one of the country’s largest celebrations. Festivities culminate on the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day, with events ranging from telling Irish history and stories to Celtic music concerts. Coyoacan’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is another highlight, following a route from the Hidalgo Garden to the National Museum of Interventions in tribute to Irish immigrants in Mexico. During this event, the Mayor’s Office reflects on the close connection between the two countries, reminding attendees of the strong and passionate community shared between Ireland and Mexico.

Flag of Montserrat in Sky — Flag of Montserrat. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. CC BY 2.0.

4. Montserrat

Located in the West Indies, Montserrat or the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,” is another region that represents a large population of people with an Irish heritage. The island has been a territory of the United Kingdom since the 17th century, when then Governor of Saint Kitts Sir Thomas Warner sent a group of Irish Catholics to Montserrat to create a settlement. Moreover, during this time was the arrival of slaves from West Africa, resulting in a unique blend of cultural diversity throughout the island. Today, Montserrat is the only country outside of Ireland to observe St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday. On the island, the day not only celebrates Montserrat’s Irish influence but also honors the enslaved population who rebelled against the island’s leaders on March 17, 1768, while they were enjoying an Irish feast. As such, the day remains an important reminder of both cultures’ histories on the island, celebrated through large events and traditions, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Here, one can experience African-inspired activities, such as a freedom run or a masquerade dance, traditional Caribbean foods and Irish-inspired green clothing or beer. The festivities last for ten days and also include parades wherein individuals wear both African prints and kilts, a visual representation of the country’s fusion of cultures.

Irish Resturants in Malaysia — Irish Restaurants in Malaysia. Robin McKay. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

5. Malaysia

Across the world in Southeast Asia, Malaysia commemorates its relationship with Ireland through St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. There is a large Irish community in the country, dating back to Irish missionaries who influenced Malaysia’s education system in the 19th century. This impact resulted in the founding of the St. Patrick’s Society of Selangor in 1925, a group whose primary role was to arrange the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death. The Society maintains many other functions outside of this, including annual charity auctions for local causes and working closely with the Irish embassy. Their annual St. Patrick’s Ball is the largest St. Patrick’s Day ball held outside of Ireland or the U.S. The gala includes traditional Irish entertainment, including musicians and a troupe of locally trained dancers. The organization also performs significant outreach, as proceeds from the event go to local Malaysian charities. The beer brand, Guinness, also holds a celebration that invites Malaysians to gather in pubs with their friends and family. The two-day festival, held in The Gasket Alley in Selangor, Malaysia, includes a variety of Irish-inspired entertainment and foods, allowing locals to partake in a vibrant range of St. Patrick’s Day traditions.

St. Patrick’s Day in Japan. HAMACHI!. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

6. Japan

With a strong, mutual desire to nourish relations between the two countries, Japan has also eagerly embraced Irish traditions. Japan is the largest source of foreign investment into Ireland from the Asia-Pacific region, and there is a large population of Irish citizens residing in Japanese cities. As such, celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day have become a hallmark of cultural appreciation, facilitated by groups like the Irish Network Japan, a non-profit run by the Irish community in Japan. Aiming to promote Irish culture in Japan, the group holds an annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Tokyo, the oldest in Asia. The procession takes place in Tokyo’s largest boulevard, Omotesando, embellished with Irish and Japanese flags, green decorations and Irish musicians and dancers. Another large event is the Green Ireland Festival, which includes even more live performances and Irish cuisine. Moreover, evidence of cultural blending is visible as well, such as in the St. Patrick’s Day march in Ise, Japan. Attendees here begin their parade from the Ise Shrine to honor the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu. Along the way, one can see both Irish and Japanese flags, bagpipes, leprechaun costumes and smaller portable shrines.

sign up for our newsletter