Saint Patricks Day is a yearly holiday celebrated on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (circa AD 387-461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It began as a purely Catholic holiday and became an official feast day in the early 1600s. However, it has gradually become more of a secular celebration of Irelands culture.

It is a public holiday on the island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora, especially in places such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Montserrat, among others.

* Also called - St Patricks Day, St Paddys Day, Patricks Day, Paddys Day.
* Observed by - Irish people and people of Irish ancestry, non-Irish celebrants.
* Type - National, Ethnic, Christian.
* Date - 17 March.
* Observances - Attending mass or service, attending parades, attending ceilithe, wearing shamrocks, wearing green.

* Traditional Saint Patricks Day badges from the early 20th century, photographed at the Museum of Country Life in County Mayo.

* According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

The Baltimore St. Patricks Day Parade is truly the jewel in Marylands emerald crown. For more than 50 years, thousands of spectators from the region have crowded the streets and sidewalks of downtown Baltimore and the famous Inner Harbor to watch thousands more march and celebrate Irish culture, music, song, and dance.

Highly visible community event - the largest Parade in the state of Maryland (2,000 participants and thousands of spectators), the longest running Parade in Baltimore (more than 50 years), the largest local 5K in the state (3,500-4,000 runners), and one of Baltimores most prestigious and proud founding communities.

There is no race more fun than the Shamrock 5K race! Run through a crowd of thousands of spectators cheering you on to the finish.

The Shamrock 5K race begins at 1:15 p.m. at Charles and Franklin Streets. The Parade steps off at 2:00 p.m. at the Washington Monument, and continues to Pratt Street and Market Place.

Parade Brunch Open to Public.

Start off your Parade Day in grand style with good fellowship, fine food, and a spectacular view of the Orioles playing field! The annual Parade Champagne Brunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Camden Club in the B&O Warehouse, next to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore Mayor
Maryland Governor: Martin O Malley

GRAND MARSHAL: CHARLES F. CONNOLLY
HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL:WILLIAM J. McCARTHY, JR.

>City(s) = Baltimore; State(s) = MD; Country = USA.
>Title = St. Patrick Day Parade, Baltimore, MD, US - Video.
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