St. Patrick’s Day Sweaters Ideas for the Entire Family

Still wondering what to wear on St. Patrick’s Day or why we wear Green on St.Patrick’s Day? We’ve got you covered… 

Saint Patrick's Day - a special day that brings joy to the heart of any Irish person. Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated annually on March 17th, honoring St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is praised for converting the Irish people to Christianity and is regarded as the patron saint of Ireland. According to the legend, St. Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans. This is also the story of how the shamrock became one of Ireland’s most popular symbols and also a sign of good luck, connected to divinity. 

The origins of this celebration go back to a Catholic feast day, celebrated in the 17th century. Since then, it has become a secular celebration of Irish culture, including parades, family gatherings, green-colored clothing, and drinking. The day of March 17th was celebrated for over 1,000 years and has been widely adopted by Irish communities worldwide.

Nowadays, the Irish people prepare meticulously to enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s. From the food to the clothing, everything receives special attention. So… what do Irish people do on St. Patrick’s Day?

Firstly, in Ireland the family has been considered a core value since the beginning of time, which is why whenever March 17th comes around, we gather our families together. With our loved ones close, we prepare and serve a feast, usually made from traditional Irish dishes and accompanied by a variety of drinks (but mostly Guinness). Attending a St. Patrick’s Day parade is also on the list for most people and last, but not least, having a festive St. Patrick’s Day outfit is a must!

What is traditional to wear on St. Patrick’s Day?

On St. Patrick's Day, we wear green clothing as a symbol of Irish heritage. Common items include green shirts, sweaters, cardigans and accessories such as scarves, hats and ties. According to a story from Irish folklore, when you wear green, leprechauns can’t see you so you are protected from them. If they see you, they will pinch you - which is why the Irish pinch those who do not wear green on March 17th. Additionally, some people may also wear traditional Irish symbols such as shamrocks, Irish harps or Claddaghs. Others might wear Irish flags or accessories with its colors. 

What clothes color is the St. Patrick’s Day wear? Did Saint Patrick wear blue or green? 

The St. Patrick’s Day “uniform” consisted of the colors of the Irish flag (green, white, and orange), each having a symbolic meaning. Green represents the Irish Catholic majority, white symbolizes peace between the Catholic and Protestant communities, and orange represents the Protestant minority. They were chosen to symbolize the hope for peace and unity between the two communities in Ireland. The flag was designed in the late 19th century as a symbol of Irish unity and has since become an enduring symbol of Irish identity.

Orange was historically associated with St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, representing the country's Protestant minority. Funny enough, royal blue was another color associated with St. Patrick. However, green has become the dominant color associated with the holiday over time, as it represents Irish heritage and Ireland's lush green landscape. A historical point that actually marks the formal adoption of green as the “official” St. Patrick’s color was during the Rebellion of 1798, when Irish rebels elected to wear green, in contrast to the red uniforms of British soldiers and the blue of the British crown. It was the input of the people who wanted green to represent them. Furthermore, for the Irish people, the color green has come to symbolize their hope and Irish unity, particularly in the context of the country's struggle for independence from Britain. Today, green is the most commonly seen and worn color on St. Patrick's Day, while orange is becoming less popular and royal blue is long forgotten.

St. Patrick’s Day outfit ideas for the entire family

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, you might want to start searching for the perfect (or just a comfortable) St. Patrick’s outfit, typically green of course. If that’s the case, we have prepared a list of ideas for your entire family: from the ladies to the gentlemen and of course, the little ones!

1. Ladies St.Patrick’s Day Irish Sweaters Ideas

Something green that adds a traditional and authentic vibe, yet still looks stylish - this might sound like an impossible mission to find, but we have the perfect piece for you! An Aran Sweater is a timeless garment, just ideal for St. Patrick’s Day clothing. You can find a large variety of options at Tara’s Irish Clothing, including superb pieces such as: 

all of which come in charming shades of green, for all tastes! Such a sweater can be worn in several combinations and styles, from casual and comfortable to elegant and sophisticated. Either you prefer to wear jeans or a fancy skirt as the bottom part, an Aran sweater will look perfectly tailored with either option. You can wear it as the staple green piece of your outfit or add more green accessories and go emerald from head to toe! 

2. St. Patrick’s Day Sweaters Ideas for Men

A St. Patrick’s day Irish sweater is not only the perfect option for the ladies, but for gentlemen as well. Our collection provides many choices of Aran sweaters for men, such as

Not only the color is an embodiment of Irish spirit, but the design as well. Our sweaters are knit with Aran patterns that come with their own symbolism. They are a part of Irish history and culture. It truly doesn’t get more timelessly Irish than this!

3. St. Patrick’s Day Clothing Ideas for children

And because we have thought of it all, we prepared options for the children as well! Their St. Patrick’s Day has to be sprinkled with fun and shamrocks, which is why we picked the pieces that will surely bring a smile to their faces! For the babies, we have the most adorable clothing pieces and accessories that will also keep them cozy and comfortable all day long: 

And for toddlers or small children we have both matching St. Patrick's Day baby Aran sweaters  (so the whole family can be picture-ready).

Even if it’s an annual holiday, St. Patrick’s Day is a very special occasion that brings all Irish people together and it definitely is a vivid celebration of our Irish pride. There are traditions that we follow and steps we take to make it as joyful as possible, for both ourselves and our families. So grab your favorite green sweater, fill the pints of Guinness and gather your loved ones for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day recipe!