The spread of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the U.S. was a way for Irish immigrant communities, who in the 19th century faced discrimination and opposition, to stake that ground, he says: “It’s a kind of immigrant Irish way of combating nativist antagonism against them.”

St. Patrick's Day is coming up on March 17. But why do we celebrate the Irish holiday? Here's what to know, plus food deals you can snag in Arizona

Wearing green is one of the most important aspects of Irish culture and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, but not everyone knows why people wear green when celebrating the holiday worldwide. According to TIME Magazine,