And may all the Irish angels, Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day. This Irish folklore site details different types of sociable and solitary fairies. Learn about the origins and categories of fairies. Learn More In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is both a national and religious holiday. Stores and offices are closed, but restaurants remain open.
Many people attend church and offer special prayers.
The holiday falls during Lent, a period when eating meat is forbidden, but the ban is lifted on St. Patrick's Day and families enjoy special meals with traditional Irish food. Since 1995 the Irish government sanctioned festivals and other events on St. Patrick's Day as a way to increase tourism and show off Ireland to the rest of the world. The official St. Patrick's Festival site has live video footage of the festival from Dublin Castle, as well as a complete guide to the events, parades, and fairs occurring in and around Dublin over the four-day celebration. The Long Black Veil pairs Sting, the Rolling Stones, Sinead O'Connor, and others with the Chieftains in the singing and playing of traditional Irish folk music. A Field Guide to Irish Fairies by Bob Curran details the types, habits, habitats, and history of the different types of Irish fairies.