What is Saint Patrick's Day?

Sounds like "I wish I were drunk"

Next Wednesday (March 17th), is Saint Patrick’s Day, a popular holiday all over the world. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He converted [changed] the Irish to Christianity about 1,550 years ago (read his full story here; Who is Saint Patrick?).

From about 1845 to 1849, there was a great famine [a time when there was no food] in Ireland. About 3,000,000 people died. Also, many people left Ireland looking for a better life in other countries like England, America, & Australia (about 40 million people in America are descendents of Irish immigrants). That’s one of the reasons Saint Patrick’s Day is so popular all over the world.

Saint Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with parades. Green is the national colour of Ireland so the streets are decorated with green banners. The people marching in the parade and the spectators [the people watching] also wear green. Bands play Irish music and people sing Irish songs or do Irish dances. Some people dress as Saint Patrick or as leprechauns.

The main way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day is to drink beer – that’s one of the other reasons that Saint Patrick’s Day is so popular!

Drinking green beer & Guinness at Murphy's Irish Pub, in Shinsaibashi, last Saint Patrick’s Day. Green is the colour of Ireland. If you visit an Irish pub on Saint Patrick’s Day, you should try a green beer and a Guinness. Green beer is just draft beer with food colouring in it. If you have to choose between the green beer & the Guinness, you should choose the Guinness!

There are two really good Irish bars in Osaka. In Umeda, you should go to The Blarney Stone (click on the name for information and a map). In Shinsaibashi, you should check out Murphy's Irish Pub (once again, click on the name for information and a map)

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! To be sure, to be sure!