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Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with all things Irish, including luck, rainbows, leprechauns, shamrocks, and anything green or gold.  
 
St. Patrick's Day celebrated annually on 17 March is named after St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland who is believed to have died on that day.  
 
As the Irish immigrated throughout the world, they took their history, beliefs and traditions with them – especially the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  
 
There is not much known about St. Patrick, an anonymous writer of the Annuals of Ulster writes the only reference about him in the 7th Century.  
 
It is said that he was born in Roman Britain in A.D. 387 (this is now called Wales). When he was 16 years old he was captured and taken to Ireland.  
 
He remained in Ireland for six years and studied religion, and then returned to England to become a Priest.  
He had a “Vision” in which the people of Ireland appealed to him to come and walk among them, and so he returned to Ireland where he converted many people to Christianity.  
 
He was one of the first Missionaries to cleverly incorporate the local Pagan beliefs of the day into his Religious beliefs, and Christian teachings.  
 
He used the three leaves of the Shamrock (a three leaf Clover that grows in abundance all over Ireland) to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to his followers, but he faced strong opposition from his fellow Religionists because he was not Irish.  
 
In A.D. 493 St. Patrick died (I make that 106 years old) and is believed to be buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, County Down with the two other Patron Saints of Ireland, St. Brigid and St. Columba.  
 
The Catholic Church has never officially canonized St. Patrick, but he is venerated in Ireland and many parts of the world. Due to the efforts of Franciscan scholar Luke Waddin in the 17th Century, the Roman Catholic Church is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as a Feast day.  
 
In Ireland today the celebrations still have religious tones, and extend over 5 days.  
 
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston USA in 1737, the oldest Parade is held in Montreal Quebec from 1759, and the longest parade is held in New York City.  
 
The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland was held in Dublin in 1931.  
Today Irish people, and want–to-bee’s celebrate St. Patrick’s day not only as a mark of respect by the great Saint, but as a reflection of the cultural tradition of Ireland and the growing sense of its nationalistic pride.  
 
Like Christmas this day has become secularized and commercialized, some have suggested it was caused by Guinness and the tourist industry, and is used as an excuse for excessive partying.  
 
Many Christian leaders have condemned these facts, but this will not stop the masses from wearing green (associated with the green leaved Shamrock), consuming Irish food (Mulligan stew, Corned beef and Cabbage) and drink (Guinness beer) and attend a parade where one is available.  
 
Not a bad epitaph for a man who lived over 1600 years ago with his most notable claim to fame was that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland.  
 
Do I celebrate this day? “Not, No, No-how, I don’t even drink Green Tea”.  
 
Note: The dates and locations change depending on whose version you choose to read, that’s history for you.  
 
This year St Patrick’s Day falls in Holly week and the Vatican is asking celebrants to move St. Patrick’s day, this happens about every 200 years.  
 
Source: http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day  
http://www.bar-resto.com/uis/history.htm