Today, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most internationally celebrated occasions in existence. But the festivities and traditions have evolved dramatically throughout the ages. Still, this lucky little holiday continues to unite communities in memorable, often unique, ways.
Most St. Patrick’s day-loving cities still show their Irish pride by pinching each other in the name of tradition and painting the town shamrock green. But a special few have taken St. Paddy’s celebrations to the next level and found clever ways to make it their own.
From Chicago to Cairo, people are ready to get into the “St. Paddy’s Day” spirit on March 17, and no replica of the blarney stone will be left unkissed! Considering Saint Patrick wasn’t actually Irish, it seems that much more fitting that it continues to be one of the most collectively celebrated holidays there is for those looking to have a community-oriented good time, regardless of their Irish origins or religious roots.
With that said, Saint Patrick remains revered as the Patron Saint of Ireland, which definitely counts for a lot. He’s credited with things like bringing new religion to the Emerald Isle and, of course, driving out all those “snakes!” And as for noteworthy parades and parties go, we’re all familiar with the biggest. However, these picturesque places continue coming up with some pretty distinctive ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so let’s give these lucky locations their well-deserved time to shine.
So without further ado, here are 8 of the most trip-worthy, wonderfully weird, and undeniably unique St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on the planet.
Portland, Maine
You might not be familiar with the “Paddy’s Day Plunge,” but those who’ve spent time in Portland, Maine often know this chilly tradition well. To “celebrate,” residents boldly jump into the famously frigid Atlantic Ocean at 5:30 a.m. It might sound unpleasant, but those who go through with it are rewarded in a way.
For starters, an occasional cold water plunge is said to be pretty good for you. But this has way more to do with tradition than health benefits. After taking the brisk plunge, the lucky leapers are invited to take part in a complimentary Irish breakfast, an auction, and a raffle! And if you think jumping into the icy unknown for a free breakfast or adrenaline rush just isn’t enough, don’t worry. You’ll be doing a good deed too. Annually, the popular Portland event donates proceeds to charity.
Related: Unique Benefits of Taking The Occasional Cold Shower
Ise, Japan
On St. Patrick’s Day, the Japanese and Irish flags swirl together in the sky. Just make your way to Irish Tokyo. Believe it or not, Japan boasts 15 St. Paddy’s parades and events every year. But Ise is widely regarded as the best place to be. At the Ise Shrine (dedicated to a Shinto sun goddess), you’ll find one of the most happy-go-lucky and lively parades in all of Tokyo.
Everywhere you turn on St. Patrick’s day, you’ll spot locals dressed like leprechauns, playing bagpipes, and doing traditional jigs with vigor. My advice? Come for the collective joyousness and stay for the annual oyster festival!
New London, Wisconsin
If you’ve ever been to New London during St. Patrick’s Day, you’ve heard the local legend. According to those who’ve lived here the longest, leprechauns have been crawling around the city and changing all the signs! But it’s all in the name of good fun. Every year, New London becomes “New Dublin” for one magical day — and not even the highway is off-limits.
Locals claim this tradition began with a wave of Irish immigration that gradually reshaped New London’s landscape. Once a predominantly German town, you’ll now find establishments like the local Shamrock Club and other Irish businesses with deep-reaching roots in the community. Not to mention, this city’s unique parade puts on a must-see adaptation of Finnegan’s Wake.
Banwen, Wales
Year after year, the Banwen parade, and the worldwide debate on St. Patrick’s birthplace, commence without fail. This quaint Welsh city has long dubbed itself St. Patrick’s true birthplace. In turn, they love nothing more than celebrating (and re-establishing) this fun town fact.
According to members of the Banwen & District History Club in Wales, St. Patrick (or Padrig in Welsh) was actually born in 385 AD, and his birth name was really Maewyn Succat. And it’s not just the locals who believe in Banwen. To this day, the majority of Ireland flocks here in full faith that this is his true birthplace.
New Orleans, Louisiana
No matter the reason or season, a wow-worthy parade and a world-class meal in New Orleans is always guaranteed. However, on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s a notably unique kind of fun with an extra special meal. Every year, the party-loving locals flock to the Irish Channel neighborhood for a street party to remember, and you should too.
I could be wrong, but the Big Easy might be the only place you celebrate a saint with a ceremonial vegetable food fight, whether you’re a local or not. If you’re wondering what that scene looks like, imagine a delicious Irish stew full of cabbages being jubilantly hurled at you, but only with the agreed-upon underhanded toss. And there’s a method to this madness. Apparently, it’s a tradition meant to playfully celebrate the birth of cabbage as a life-saving staple during the potato famine.
Montserrat
Dubbed “The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,” this vibrantly green getaway has been home to a sizable Irish Catholic population since the 17th century. Most notably, it’s the only place on earth (other than Ireland) where St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated as a public holiday. Who knew?
If you crave an extended celebration, this is the place to be. Montserrat’s festivities go on for a whopping ten days. But they’re not just celebrating Saint Patrick. There’s an overlapping celebration of a slave rebellion, festively blending the Caribbean island’s Irish and African heritage.
Chicago, Illinois
While a boatload of U.S. cities dye their waterways green during St. Paddy’s Day, Chicago’s shamrock green river is by far the most famous. When it’s time for the annual parade, this 156-mile system of rivers and canals undergoes its uniquely festive transformation.
This Windy City tradition is taken pretty seriously. The dying of the Chicago River has been protected by the Butler and Rowan families for more than 50 years. Adding to its uniqueness, nobody seems to know what’s in the top-secret, neon green recipe. But don’t worry; it’s eco-friendly, vegetable-based, and loaded with holiday magic!
International Space Station
The greenest holiday is sometimes celebrated far beyond the blue planet. In 2013, a Canadian astronaut donned green, snapped a photo of Ireland from outer space, and shared an unforgettable video singing “Danny Boy.” In the most entertaining way possible, the supersonic St. Paddy’s tradition seemed to stick.
Following in their space-traveling footsteps, a fellow astronaut performed an Irish flute song somewhere in the stratosphere to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day back on planet earth. And if we’re lucky, someone new will also serenade us from space this year.
