This year in 2018 St. Patrick’s Day falls on Saturday, March 17th. St. Patrick’s means “The Day of the Festival of Patrick” which is a cultural and religious celebration and held on the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

The first color was “Saint Patrick’s blue,” a light shade. The color green only became associated with the big day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.

It’s important to wear green because wearing green shirts and leprechaun costumes are traditions, when people wore green ribbons and shamrocks on March 17 to honor Ireland’s patron saint. Pinching people who didn’t wear green reminded them that leprechauns could sneak up on them at any time.

Shamrocks are vastly important on St. Patrick’s Day as according to Irish legend, the saint used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

The tradition of food typically ate is corned beef and cabbage. Why? It doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, it’s a nod to the large grains of salt that were historically used to cure meats, which were also known as “corns.”

The Bel Air festivities include 510 Johnny’s, with their festivities starting on the Thursday night before the holiday and continuing through Sunday evening. There’s an egg and potatoes breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday. The tavern Doors open at 8 a.m. on Friday for Irish breakfast. Looney’s pub opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, with a breakfast buffet from 8–10 a.m. Looney’s opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with Irish brunch from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. At Sean Bolan’s breakfast starts at 8 a.m. on Friday, with corned beef hash, French toast and other specials for St. Patrick’s Day.

Don’t miss out on these fun St. Patrick’s Day festivities!!!