Despite the muted reaction of Harvard students to St. Patrick's Day, the holiday is considered a bigger event for Irish-Americans than for natives of Ireland itself, said Tomas O'Cathasaigh, Shattuck Professor of Irish Literatures.

"I will go to the Cambridge St. Patrick's Day parade and that will mark the holiday," said O'Cathasaigh. "St. Patrick's Day isn't central to [Irish citizens'] notions of themselves."

By contrast, O'Cathasaigh said many Americans of Irish descent see St. Patrick's Day as a time to revel in their heritage.

"Here, [the holiday] is the focus of Irish-American people's identity and their connection to the land, so in a sense it's celebrated more vigorously here," he said.

So despite students' workloads, representatives of local area bars said they expect a large turnout tonight and tomorrow.

"We should have a big crowd during the day," said Brittney L. St. Jermaine, a bartender at Shay's Pub and Wine Bar. "We got Murphy's on tap for the first time in honor of the holiday."