The religious holiday has been observed by the Irish for over 1,000 years, but the secular revelry commonly associated with it (like drinking green beer, finding lucky shamrocks, holding community festivals and parades, and coloring Chicago lake water green) is all because the leprechauns make us do it!

The first official St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in 1601, in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. Boston and New York followed up with their own marches in the 18th century, and today, countries and cultures all over the world enjoy creating their own “St. Paddy’s day” festivities and traditions.

May you carry the luck o’ the Irish with you today and now I’ve got to go find me a lucky charm and a pot o’ gold.