7 St. Patrick's Daybr Traditions Explained Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, br but why are these traditions so significant? 1. St. Patrick Patrick was an Irish missionary whobr was kidnapped as a child andbr brought to Ireland. March 17 isbr believed to be the day of his death. 2. The Green Riverbr in Chicago The Chicago River has beenbr traditionally dyed green for over 50br years. The color green is derivedbr from the green strip in the Irish flag. 3. Parades The first St. Patrick’s Day paradebr in the U.S. was in 1762. They allowbr people to proudly celebrate theirbr Irish-American identity. 4. Shamrocks Shamrocks used to be worn by thebr Irish in defiance of the ruling Britishbr class and to represent kinshipbr among the native people. 5. Drinking Guinness This Irish stout is the drinkbr of choice on St. Patrick's Day,br with about 13 million pintsbr consumed on the holiday. 6. Leprechauns These little green men come frombr 8th century Irish folklore. They werebr said to make shoes and wreckbr havoc on unsuspecting humans. 7. Corned Beefbr and Cabbage This tradition was begun by poorbr Irish-Americans of the 19th century.br Corned beef and cabbage werebr the affordable option.