Today is St. Patrick's Day. Although in Australia and possibly in most parts of the world, there would have been huge celebrations (i.e. Drinking) done all around the world yesterday on the weekend. In Sydney, there was a huge parade that took up our main strip in celebration. For our part, we released green promotional lollipops in celebration. However, this has got me thinking. What is the history behind St. Patricks Day, and why does everything need to be green?

1. Understand the history of St. Patrick's Day.
2. Embrace the significance of green.
3. Utilise green promotional items creatively.

Who is St. Patrick

Discovering why the day exists in the first place, it would be wise to first start from the beginning. I did some research on the life of St. Patrick. There are so many stories and legends about the man that it is hard to distinguish fact from fiction. However, many seem to agree that St. Patrick was originally a Roman Britain and made to become a slave to a Celtic priest. Over the coming years, he developed enlightenment through prayer with God and became fluent in Irish. An angel came to him and urged him to escape, which he duly did and returned to Britain to his family. Afterwards, he became a priest after training in France and spread Christianity to Ireland.

His legend, though, came from him having plucked a shamrock. (ie. the iconic three-leaf clover), and used it to explain the Church as the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit to the first bishop of Slane. This was all part of his missionary work, and in the coming years, he travelled all around the country, spreading the word of Jesus. One of his other legends was that he banished snakes from Ireland, chasing them into the sea from the top of a mountain.

Why Green on St. Patricks Day

It is a custom to wear Shamrock or green clothing. It is known as "wearing of the green," The Shamrock, i.e. the 3-leaf plant, was, after all, used to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. Since then, Green has been forever been linked with Ireland through song, stories and history.

Creative Green Promo Items

Green promotional items can be creatively used to promote business and connect with customers and clients. Consider the following ingenious ways to use green promotional items:

• Use green custom wristbands to show support for environmental causes, such as recycling and conservation initiatives.
• Create a "green team" of employees or volunteers and give them green promotional items to wear at community events and gatherings. It creates a sense of belonging and camaraderie, making the green branded items more appealing to the public.
• Use green promotional items as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle. For example, giving away green branded sports bottles with a company name and logo can encourage people to drink more water while publicising the brand.
• You could also use green promotions to advertise local or seasonal product offerings like Christmas toys, flowers, or Easter decor aligned with the green colour.
• Consider opting for green promotional items that are useful in daily life, like personalised tote bags, drinkware, or tech items. This approach gives prospective customers a tangible item they can make use of while having them also regard the green colour favourably to your brand.

Conclusion

In summary, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration rooted in the history of St. Patrick, a figure who played a significant role in spreading Christianity in Ireland. The colour green has become synonymous with this day, symbolising Irish culture and tradition. By leveraging green promotional items, businesses can creatively connect with customers, support environmental causes, promote a healthy lifestyle, and foster a sense of belonging among employees and volunteers. So, whether you're wearing green clothing or distributing green branded items, St. Patrick's Day offers a chance to celebrate and promote your business in a fun and engaging way. Happy St. Patrick's Day, mate!