Why do some people wear orange on St Patrick?

Answer 1

Generally, the color orange in relation to Irish history relates to William of Orange who was a significant figure in the conquest of Ireland by the British empire. The wearing of orange garments would then identify its wearers as supporters of UK loyalist ideals in Ireland and/or more specifically Northern Ireland. Some may say that the orange represents protestants and the green represents catholics. While this was perhaps true in the past, it is certainly a much more complicated issue in the present. To reduce the Irish problem to a row between two sects of the same religion is the product of simplistic thinking. The effect of religious and political history has produced a pseudo-nation in limbo divided much more, in modern reality, by economics than religion. People wearing orange on St. Patricks Day most probably think they are making a statement against a unified Ireland, but really they are as ridiculous as the more numerous green beer drinking morons who crowd into any bar with a glowing shamrock. On St Patricks, I raise a pint of Guinness (at home) to the land from where my fathers family came and drink to those that made me and remember thing like the Republic of Ireland flag with its green and orange standards separated by a white field symbolizes both the division and hopeful reconciliation of the two sides.

Answer 2

Many scots support theNorthern Irish Protestants who sided with William Of Orange against the catholic king James. But their day of celebration is the 4th July, not 17th March, St Patrick's day. The Irish flag is green, white and orange, symbolising a truce between the green Irish nationalists, and the orange loyalists (loyal to king William and his successors in England)