In both Mexico and the United States Saint Patrick’s Day (Día de San Patricio) is a civic, not a statutory, holiday.  Employees do not receive a day off (with or without pay).  Banks, schools, government offices, and businesses are open as usual.

Saint Patrick's Day was first publicly celebrated in Boston in 1737 where a large population of Irish immigrants resided.  Nearly 200 years later, the first Saint Patrick's Day parade in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931.  During the mid 1990's, the Irish government also began a campaign to promote tourism in Ireland on March 17th.

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in both the United States and Mexico on March 17th.  Many Mexicans are aware of Saint Patrick and some of the associated Irish customs and folklore, such as Leprechauns.  However, in Mexico Saint Patrick’s Day is not a day to celebrate all things Irish with drinking and partying as it is in the United States.  

That is not to say that one cannot find Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Mexico, especially in places with tourists and immigrants.  In Tijuana, for example, there have been years where the bars in the Zona have served green beer on Saint Patrick’s Day and there are bars that host Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Saint Patrick’s Day is one of two days when Mexico honors the valiant service of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion (El Batallón de San Patricio also called los San Patricios), primarily Irish soldiers who had deserted from the United States army and fought in the Mexican army against the United States during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48.  The other day that Mexico honors the Saint Patrick’s Battalion is September 12th, the date when captured members of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion were executed for desertion from the United States Army.  

Mexican children born on March 17th are often named Patricio or Patricia (the Spanish equivalent of Patrick or Patricia) in honor of Saint Patrick.   And the Saint Patrick’s Battalion.

St. Patrick's Day Vocabulary
Saint Patrick =San Patricio  
 Saint Patrick’s Day  =Día de San Patricio  
 Saint Patrick’s Battalion=El Batallón de San Patricio (los San Patricios)  
 Mexican-American War of 1846-48=La Guerra México-Americana de 1846-1848  
 Ireland =Irlanda  
 Irish =Irlandés  
 Emerald Isle=La isla esmeralda  
 England=Inglaterra  
 Celts=Celtas  
 Gaelic=Gaélico
 Leprechauns=Duendes
 Shamrock=El trébol  
 Corned Beef=Carne de res en conserva  
 Cabbage=Repollo  
 Pinch=Pellizcar  
 Rainbow=Arco iris
 Pot of gold=Olla de oro

-- Modified on 3/9/2017 11:38:29 PM