Although St. Patrick's Day is not a nationalholiday， it gives a happy excuse for friends togather and to celebrate.

The traditional color of St. Patrick's Day isgreen， in honor of the color d'Ireland. Ireland is avery rainy country， so the hills are bright greenand lovely looking. The traditional food anddrink are beer， corned beef and Cabbage， andIrish coffee. The traditional decorations areshamrocks (Ireland's national symbol); Irishhats; Irish pipes; pigs (in honor of SaintPatrick and the Irish traditional farm animal);and potatoes (in honor of Ireland's traditionalcrop).