Azerbaijan extends St. Patrick's Day greetings to Ireland

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended its congratulations to Ireland on the occasion of St. Patrick's Day, the country’s national day.

The message was shared via the official page of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports.

Congratulations to Ireland and Irish people on St. Patrick's Day! 🇦🇿🇮🇪@dfatirl pic.twitter.com/X59MHvGqPZ

— MFA Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (@AzerbaijanMFA) March 17, 2025

“Congratulations to Ireland and Irish people on St. Patrick's Day,” the message by the ministry read.

St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland for over 1,000 years, on March 17 each year.

Originally a religious holiday commemorating the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the day has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture. Festivities now include parades, music, traditional foods, dances, and an abundance of green – the color most commonly associated with the saint.

Many of the symbols and legends tied to Ireland, such as leprechauns and shamrocks, are connected to Saint Patrick. Credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, which was then a pagan land, Saint Patrick used Celtic symbols like leprechauns (mischievous fairies) to help bridge the gap between the country's traditions and the new faith. According to legend, he chose shamrocks (three-leaved clovers) as a symbol of the Church, using the three leaves to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to his followers.

Today, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in over 200 countries around the world. It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the British overseas territory of Montserrat, all of which have strong Irish heritage.

By Vafa Guliyeva