Munich's 30th St. Patrick's Day Parade in honor of Ireland's patron saint drew 45,000 people to the city.
On Sunday, the Leprechaun, the shoemaker of the fairies, was a ubiquitous symbol of good luck in Munich's city center during the grand St. Patrick's Day parade!
On March 17th, the Irish celebrate their patron saint, St. Patrick – and this past weekend, his grand parade took place (DEUTSCH, ENGLISH, ITALIANO, FRANÇAIS)
Munich. On Sunday, over 45,000 joyful people flocked to Munich for the largest parade in 30 years, celebrating Ireland's national saint, St. Patrick, in the city center. For the 30th time, the grand St. Patrick's Day parade in Munich became a major event for the Irish. Bishop Patrick lived in Ireland in the 5th century, and his official feast day is March 17th! In his honor, the parade for Ireland's patron saint takes place in Munich every year on the weekend before Ireland's national holiday. The two mayoral candidates, Dieter Reiter and Dominik Krause, were also present. A total of 70 groups and over 1,400 participants created a lively atmosphere in Munich with music and dancing during the grand parade. Some participants had traveled all the way from Ireland for the 30th annual Green Parade. The bagpipers of the "Claymore Pipes and Drums" band, clad in kilts, played Gallic bagpipe music that made spectators dream of a holiday in Ireland. Many spectators were dressed in green. Traditionally, Ireland's national holiday is celebrated with parades, music, dancing, and the wearing of green.
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| In the parade, the leprechaun was led along, clutching a shamrock and good luck. Photo: Waess, March 15, 2026 |
The symbols for this holiday are:
Leprechaun, gold coins, shamrock, rainbow, horseshoe, and a pot full of gold coins
The green-clad leprechaun is the central figure in Irish legends and the symbol of St. Patrick's Day.
What is a leprechaun?
He is a legendary central figure in Irish folklore: The leprechaun comes from Irish mythology and appears as a small, green-clad sprite with a red beard. In the legends, he is the shoemaker of the fairies, greedily guarding his pots of gold and hiding them safely at the end of a rainbow. The name comes from the Middle Irish "luchorpán," meaning "little body," and "leith brogan," meaning "shoemaker." These green nature spirits and their shamrocks are also unofficial emblems and official lucky symbols of Ireland.
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| A REAL EYE-CATCHER FROM IRELAND: The bus to Birmingham was enthusiastically photographed from all sides. Photo: Waess, March 15, 2026 |
Green is the color of St. Patrick's Day, the "Emerald Isle" of Ireland
Historically, the color commemorates the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
On Sunday, March 15, over 45,000 joyful people celebrated Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick,
and the most famous Irish toast on St. Patrick's Day was often heard:
"May your neighbors respect you,
trouble neglect you,
the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you."
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| The leprechaun's green hat was everywhere. Photo: Waess, March 15, 2026 |
