Wearing green on Saint Patrick's Day is a tradition that will get you pinched if you don't take part. What creative way will you be wearing green this March 17?
Every year on St. Patrick's Day, Tourism Ireland urges everyone to show their Irish spirit by “greening” their websites, events, show window displays, and office workplaces, as famous buildings and monuments around the world also take part in the Global Greening.
We'll see green painted faces and all types of green clothes and of course, in America there's the tradition that you're going to be pinched if you don't do so.
Why do we wear green on St Patrick's Day?
The original color of Saint Patrick was blue but because Ireland, as the nickname the Emerald Isle would give away, is very much associated with the color green; shamrocks are green; and there's green in our flag, Americans gradually began wearing more green and more green and as with most Saint Patrick's Day traditions, Ireland and the rest of the world followed suit.
Read more: Why people drink green beer on St. Patrick’s Day
Why do some people believe we should wear orange on Saint Patrick's Day?
Back in the 5th century when Saint Patrick was converting the Irish to Christianity, there was no such religion as Protestant, as the Reformation had not yet taken place. Some feel that as both the green and orange in the Irish flag represent different brands of Christianity and a different brand of Irish identity, not forgetting the white peace between them, we should wear a combination of both colors to properly represent Ireland. What do you make of that?
Why do some people wear red on St Patrick's Day?
We have to say we were also a little surprised when we were mid-Google hunt for the best ways to wear green this Saint Patrick's Day and came across some people claiming that you should wear red on Saint Patrick's Day.
If you go back in history than Leprechauns were originally portrayed as wearing little red suits before green completely took over but it seems that those who want to show a pro-English leaning, side with red on the Irish national holiday. Or they could have just forgotten and people are getting a little too worked up.
Read more: How Americans invented St. Patrick's Day
The annual Global Greening sees many major landmarks and iconic sites around the world illuminated and green.
Tourism Ireland is asking people to pledge their greening using the hashtag #GoGreen4PatricksDay.
How will you be dressing up in green for Saint Patrick's Day this year? Let us know in the comments section, below.
* Originally published in 2015.
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