Most bar owners can’t wait until Saint Patrick’s Day, because it’s like Christmas for them. The bars are filled with lively crowds and the uniform is green, all over, with smiles.

“You’ll see people from 21 year olds to your grandpa, it’s a fun time,” said a local bar owner.

But, the origins of the holiday didn’t start out this way.

St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious holiday, celebrating the death of a famous evangelical figure: St. Patrick.

“I attend mass in the morning and celebrate later in the day by drinking,” said Albert Gil, an Irish resident.

Traditional Irish communities would attend mass, then go eat with family. A little background from history.com paints a patriotic picture of St. Patrick’s Day. Irish soldiers, serving in the English military, took to the streets, marching, playing their bagpipes and celebrating their culture on March 17, 1762.

This tradition would continue to bring Irish communities together, as the years went on.

National unity was expressed through the shamrock, a symbol of rebirth. During the British siege, the Irish would wear a shamrock to show their solidarity, according to history.com.

As far the leprechaun is concerned, it has nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day. The figure comes from the Celtic belief that there are magical fairies that serve good and evil.

This symbol was added years later by American media.

The first time a leprechaun was portrayed as a mascot for St. Patrick’s Day was in Walt Disney’s 1959 movie, “Darbie O’ Gill and the Little People”, according to the web site.

It became so popular that newspapers started to cover this extraordinary event. People from around the world began to participate, when news arrived of what a good time St. Patrick’s Day was.

Now, the streets are filled with people enjoying the holiday with music and alcohol on March 17. In a way, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.