On Monday, March 17, Irish communities all around the world will be celebrating the day that commemorates their Patron Saint. In fact, the day is so well known that the majority of people taking part in the celebrations will most likely not even be Irish at all.

The all-inclusive holiday is perhaps fitting when we realize that St. Patrick was not Irish himself. People commonly make the mistake of thinking that he must be a native because he is the country's Patron Saint. In reality, the title was appointed and maintained because all the wonderful work he did in restoring the country and bringing Christianity over in a time when there was a lot of civil unrest and poverty in the nation.

When the Welsh-born missionary travelled over to Ireland in the 5th Century, Ireland was a very poor nation, and constant inter-tribal warring was taking its toll on the country. Spreading the word of Christianity brought a ray of hope to the people and showed them a different way to live, leading to significant improvements to the lives of many.

The country remains strongly Christian and, although the North and South have divided over the differences between Catholicism and Protestant beliefs, the foundations laid down by St. Patrick remain present throughout the country to this day.

Of course, for some people the day is merely an excuse to drink (and to start early at that), but now that you know the history, you can feel better about yourself while doing so. When considering St. Patty's day events, remember to wear green and lots of shamrocks for good luck.

No matter whether you are hosting or attending a party, you might need some green food to wash down that green beer, so here are some festive party treat ideas. Check your local municipality pages for celebrations and parades open to the public. Many cities such as New York and Boston make a tradition out of St. Patrick's day parades.