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St. Patrick’s Day: dates, traditions and planning
When is St. Patrick’s Day 2027?
St. Patrick’s Day 2027 is Wednesday, 17 March, in ISO week 11. The date is fixed at 17 March each year — the traditional anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Because the date is fixed, only the weekday changes. A midweek St. Patrick’s Day means parades and events may be spread across the surrounding weekend in some cities, but the day itself remains 17 March.
Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Christian missionary and is the foremost patron saint of Ireland. According to tradition he was brought to Ireland as an enslaved teenager, escaped, and later returned as a missionary. Many of the famous stories — such as driving snakes out of Ireland — are legends rather than documented history.
The shamrock is linked to a tradition that Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Trinity. Wearing green, shamrocks and attending parades grew from these associations into the modern celebration.
Is St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday?
In Ireland, 17 March is a public holiday, and it is also a bank holiday in Northern Ireland. In the countries covered by this page — the USA, the wider UK, Canada, Australia and India — it is a cultural observance rather than a general day off.
That distinction matters for planning: parades, festivals and pub celebrations happen in cities around the world, but schools and workplaces generally follow their normal schedules outside Ireland and Northern Ireland.
A global celebration
St. Patrick’s Day parades are held far beyond Ireland. New York’s parade is among the oldest and largest, and Chicago famously dyes its river green. Cities in Canada, Australia and elsewhere host their own events, often on the nearest weekend.
If you are planning travel or an event, check the organiser’s published schedule — a city parade date is a local decision and is not always 17 March itself. The countdown on this page targets the start of 17 March in your selected time zone.
Explore the 2027 United States calendar with week numbers for holidays and clock changes. For exact intervals use the date calculator, compare cities in the meeting planner, or set a different event time in the custom countdown. The sunrise and sunset tool helps with outdoor plans.
