St. Patrick’s Day is named in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick who was very successful in winning converts to Christianity during the fifth century. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17th, the anniversary of Patrick’s death in 432 C.E.In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for centuries as a national and Catholic religious holiday. Irish families attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Celebrations include food, drink, and dancing. In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is a day for Irish Americans to celebrate their Irish heritage with festive parades, food (corned beef and cabbage), and drink. During the mid-nineteenth century, Irish immigrants escaping the Great Potato Famine in Ireland struggled to gain a foothold in American society. They celebrated their culture and ethnic pride despite economic hardship and discrimination. St. Patrick’s Day became a high point of celebrating Irish identity.New York City hosts America’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Parades also take place in other U.S. cities with large Irish-American populations, including Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Both Irish-Americans and non-Irish Americans enjoy participating in the parades, eating, drinking, and wearing green. Many people also wear shamrocks, the symbol of Ireland.