Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, is a Christian holiday that celebrates the patron saint of Ireland. to the legend, St. Patrick drove all the out of Ireland. St. Patrick's Day has also , especially in the United States, a day to Irish culture. In major cities across the country in New York and Boston, there are parades festivals. People wear green and decorate with shamrocks, type of three-leaf clover. Some people wear buttons tee shirts that say "Kiss me, I'm Irish". the U.S. St. Patrick's Day is not a holiday, meaning government offices and schools are open.

biggest and oldest parade takes place in New City. It actually began about 250 years ago the U.S. was even its own country. Every thousands gather along the famous Fifth Avenue to hundreds of Irish step dancers and bagpipe players . Irish step dancing is done in groups or . Dancers perform complicated moves with their feet and while keeping their upper bodies stiff. The parade also been a source of controversy because the is associated with the Catholic Church in New City; gay and lesbian organizations have not been to march. Many people protest the parade or it.

St. Patrick's Day has also become associated the drinking of a lot of alcohol, specifically . One drink that is often seen around the is "Green Beer". This is really just regular with green food coloring. Many people feel like holiday celebrates stereotypes about the Irish, like the that they all like to drink and get . Others complain that the holiday has become too on drinking, with public drunkenness as a problem major cities around the holiday.