The worldwide celebration of St. Patrick's Day is not just an excuse to drink yourself into oblivion (though that is fun) and dine on corned beef—it's also an opportunity to explore the rest of Irish culture. Named after St. Patrick (duh), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, the day originated as a Catholic holiday and became an official feast day in the early 17th century. Many people, regardless of their ethnic background, wear green clothing and items, or face the possibility of a traditional, good-natured pinch for not participating. Some U.S. cities with large Irish populations, such as Boston and Chicago, take the celebration to extreme measures—the latter city dyes the Chicago River a spectacular color green on the holiday (leading some to wonder why the city can't dye the murky waterway blue the rest of the year). The wizards filling Apple's App Store with iPhone and iPad applications certainly aren't sitting this holiday out—the site boasts a selection of apps in recognition of St. Patrick's Day, from histories and quizzes of Irish culture to countdowns, wallpapers and festival guides. Regardless of the amount of Irish in you, the holiday provides a great excuse to delve into another culture—and maybe have one beer too many.
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St. Patrick's Day (Free)
Get an education in the history of the holiday and Irish culture, including the truth about leprechauns, Irish dancing and cultural customs.
Lucktricity (99 cents)
Find out how much Luck o' the Irish you have in you with this drinking game app, which tells you to sip or gulp, depending on how lucky you are.
St. Patrick's Festival Guide (Free)
If you happen to be in Dublin for the holiday, check out this app, which includes a live streaming video feed of the parade in Dublin on the March 17.
St. Patrick's Day Recipes ($1.99)
This app boasts 41 recipes, including corned beef puffs, Luck of the Irish kettle soup and other delicious dishes.
Irish Proverbs (Free)
Get a taste of Irish wit and wisdom by shaking your iPhone to access hundreds of quotes and clever sayings.
Leprechaun Beer Pong (99 cents)
Challenge your virtual opponent, Paddy, to a rousing game of beer pong—but beware, he gets cranky when he starts losing.
Irish Music Radio FM ($1.99)
Catch up on contemporary Irish rock music alongside your favorite jigs and drinking songs with dozens of music stations at your disposal.
St. Patrick's Day Wallpapers (99 cents)
Share the spirit of the holiday by creating custom wallpapers, or upload them to Facebook with St. Patty's Day themes.
Talking Leprechaun (99 cents)
This guy repeats back what you say to him, dances and also has a few funny observations of his own. Now if only he'd tell you where that pot of gold is ...
Irish Luck Scanner (99 cents)
Find out which of your friends has that famous luck with this scanner, which allows you to point your iPhone at friends and family and gauge how lucky they are.
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The worldwide celebration of St. Patrick's Day is not just an excuse to drink yourself into oblivion (though that is fun) and dine on corned beef—it's also an opportunity to explore the rest of Irish culture. Named after St. Patrick (duh), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, the day originated as a Catholic holiday and became an official feast day in the early 17th century. Many people, regardless of their ethnic background, wear green clothing and items, or face the possibility of a traditional, good-natured pinch for not participating. Some U.S. cities with large Irish populations, such as Boston and Chicago, take the celebration to extreme measures—the latter city dyes the Chicago River a spectacular color green on the holiday (leading some to wonder why the city can't dye the murky waterway blue the rest of the year). The wizards filling Apple's App Store with iPhone and iPad applications certainly aren't sitting this holiday out—the site boasts a selection of apps in recognition of St. Patrick's Day, from histories and quizzes of Irish culture to countdowns, wallpapers and festival guides. Regardless of the amount of Irish in you, the holiday provides a great excuse to delve into another culture—and maybe have one beer too many.