St. Patrick, whose original name was Maewyn Succat, was born in Britain around 390 C.E. but was kidnapped at age 16 and taken to Ireland, where he lived in slavery. He made it back to Britain a few years later, where he became a priest, but ultimately returned to Ireland to become a missionary and died trying to convert the country’s pagan population to Christianity. Roughly a thousand years after his death, legend began surrounding his name, and in the year 1601, Florida in the United States held the first documented St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Over 400 years later, St. Patrick’s Day has become a massive holiday where people worldwide attend parades and parties where they feast on corn beef, cabbage, and potatoes while drinking green beer. Green, because it is the color of St. Patrick’s Day. Major monuments like the Pyramids at Giza, the Eiffel Tower, and the Sydney Opera House become awash in green lighting, while The Chicago River is dyed bright green all to celebrate the holiday. Then there’s the social rule that you must wear green on March 17th, or else other people can pinch you. But why green? If you think it’s because of the notorious shamrock linked to Ireland… you’re only partly right.

The Real Reason Green is Used to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Blue, not green, was the chosen color of Ireland. Blue was worn by Irish leaders, militaries, and was a symbol national pride until the Irish rebellion against the British in 1798. At the time, military uniforms had symbolic importance, and the Irish rebels wore dark green coats with white and green striped trousers and a shamrock at their device when they led the rebellion. It was a brief battle, only lasting about five months. Still, it was an early and significant push by the Irish to attain a republican government and be released from British rule.

The conflict inspired the song “The Wearing of the Green,” which had perhaps the most substantial influence in linking the color green with Ireland. The ballad’s lyrics use the shamrock as a symbol of Irish identity and connect both the symbol and its color to Saint Patrick, who was also viewed as a symbol of Ireland. The final verse calls for Irish citizens to immigrate to the United States, and they did. Then, it was in America that the link between Irish identity and the color green was fortified as Irish immigrants adopted the color to show pride in their culture.

So, there you have it. While countless more links between Ireland and the color of green have been made over the years, the one that began it all was one of rebellion. Considering this, perhaps consuming cannabis this St. Patrick’s Day is more fitting than downing a green beer. Not only is cannabis naturally green, without the need for food coloring, but consuming it is still viewed by some to be a rebellious act – and won’t leave you with a shocking bar tab or a wicked hangover. So, this St. Patrick’s Day, we recommend celebrating with one of these high-quality cannabis strains.

Best Green Cannabis Strains for St. Patrick’s Day

No matter how you smoke cannabis, with a bong, pipe, or joint, you can’t go wrong with these fantastic strains.

If checking out a St. Patrick’s Day Parade or the Portland Shamrock Run sounds fun, then a quality Sativa strain like Emergen-C or Lemon Ozium is all you need to feel energized and ready to celebrate.

Meanwhile, if crowded events aren’t your jam, you might prefer a lowkey Indica like the relaxing Northern Wreck or euphoric feeling Wedding Cake. Either is an excellent option for staying home and watching your favorite Irish flicks like Derry Girls or Belfast. Maybe have a few friends over and make a movie night out of it.

Then again, perhaps your idea of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day falls somewhere in between. If so, you might benefit most from a hybrid cannabis strain like the relaxing Tuscan Gelato or giggle-inducing Sticky Banana. Both are perfect for strolling the delectable and massive farmers markets near Portland State University on the South Park Blocks and grazing on local delights to fulfill your munchies or check out a food stand selling Irish cuisine!

Final Thought

No matter your choice, you’re bound to have a great time celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day – you little rebel you. Even if you opt out of smoking cannabis flower, there are many other options, including cannabis-infused beverages and edibles. All of which are available at our North Portland dispensary.

Greeley Gallery is known for providing high-quality cannabis products made locally and is open seven days a week between 7 am and 10 pm. We encourage you to stop by any time, where our friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to make recommendations and answer any questions you may have.

Written By: Katrina Paulson