While it’s not a national holiday, the 36 million Americans who trace their ancestors back to the Emerald Isle take St. Patrick’s Day in the United States very seriously—not only because of the generous Guinness promotions at the local pub. 

First of all, it’s all about the colour green. Irish and non-Irish celebrate the day by wearing green and decorating their workplaces around that colour. Green hats, green ties—you name it, people will wear it. A schoolyard tradition on this day is that if you’re not wearing green, your fellow pupils will most likely pinch you.

Some cities with large Irish communities go to extremes to make the city awash in the green hues of the day. For instance, Chicago dyes its river green, which came about by accident when a group of plumbers more than 40 years ago used flourescin to trace any harmful substances in the river. The tradition still remains.

While green is the most important colour of this day, the dark, coffee-like colour of Guinness stout also has great importance. For those who don’t claim the luck of the Irish, it’s an excuse to go their local Irish pub and take in a few pints of this bitter drink.

Traditional Irish pubs (and regular bars) have huge celebrations on this day, with kegs blessed with Guinness and bars stocked with Bailey’s Irish cream and Jameson’s whisky. Some pubs have live Irish folk music or their local Celtic punk band blasting music until closing time.

In addition to downing pints of stout at the pub, eating corned beef is customary on this day. The tradition came about when Irish immigrants settled in the United States and substituted it for bacon as part of their dinners.

As drinking and eating is an important activity of the day, no St. Patrick’s Day is complete with a parade through the city! New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade attracts around two million spectators and 150,000 marchers down Fifth Avenue. Boston’s parade is the oldest not only in the United States, but in the world, with its first celebration in 1737 as part of a protest for more rights for Irish immigrants.

While Ireland is home to St. Patrick and all things treasured from the Emerald Isle, the celebrations are very much alive and well in the world’s largest Irish community.