Every year, around March 17, St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish culture and offers university students a chance to take part in time-honoured traditions both on and off campus. The Tribune asked students how they mark the occasion.
For some, St. Patrick’s Day is a chance to engage with the city’s cultural events. Juniper Fu, U1 Arts, participates in daytime events that are orchestrated by the city, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on rue Sainte-Catherine.
“When I was in Cégep, I learned a lot about the history of Montreal and how there are many Irish descendants and that they contributed to the development of the city,” Fu told The Tribune. “I do think St. Patrick’s Day is quite unique because of the city’s large Irish presence.”
Beyond its historical significance, Fu views the holiday as a celebration of the upcoming spring season, as it marks a bright turning point from what she described as Montreal’s “depressing and bone-chilling” winter.
Nighttime activities, high-energy events, and celebrating through drinking, dancing, and fun are also a big part of St. Patrick’s Day culture. Gonzalo Rodriguez, U4 Arts, described his typical celebration as a night for raves and partying events.
“Because St. Patrick’s Day is a big part of the weekend, a lot of the people or companies who run these events go big,” he explained.
Rodriguez highlighted Montreal’s vibrant nightlife, especially along its main clubbing streets, where the mayhem never stops. While St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Montreal resemble those in other major cities, he suggested its scene is uniquely exciting.
“Montreal is the best place for celebrations,” Rodriguez claimed.
While many enjoy what Montreal offers for this holiday, other students like Sonia Narvaez, U1 Arts, and Lucy Heras, U1 Engineering, prefer to celebrate in a more calm and contained setting.
“[I like] spending time with friends: I think it would be more fun to go to someone’s house than to go to a club because it can be crazy,” Narvaez stated.
“I feel like in general, though, that’s what we prefer. We don’t hate bars but we just prefer to be with friends,” Heras added. “It’s more comfortable.”
Narvaez and Heras also emphasized that St. Patrick’s Day does not have to revolve around excessive drinking, despite McGill’s ‘work hard, play hard’ culture. They mentioned the Ginger Run, a student-friendly event that offers an alternative to heavy partying.
Another distinctive event that takes place on campus is the annual St Patrick’s Gerts celebration. Aaron Jain, U1 Science, discussed how there are also multiple alternative parties taking place on and around campus, thanks to the school’s location in the city.
“The same darty culture that you find at more suburban or isolated campuses is cool at McGill because you can go from bars and clubs to little courtyard parties that you would see at an apartment complex,” Jain told The Tribune.
He also highlighted his preference for this unique celebration dynamic instead of the typical scene at most universities, which he described as “one large cult-following street party.” By emphasizing more intimate parties and courtyard gatherings close to campus, he described how, instead of excessiWve drinking in large crowds, celebrating becomes an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and make it more personal.
Overall, the campus and city offer a large variety of ways in which one can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you like to enjoy city parades, nighttime raves, friendly gatherings, or on-campus events—such as 4 Floors which made a return this year—a versatile city like Montreal always has you covered.
