People around the world will put on green and maybe enjoy a pint or two (that are probably green) and celebrate the good cheer that’s synonymous with celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. But how many of these revelers know what the day is really about? Here is a rundown of interesting facts about this Irish holiday.
Parades, parties and other festivities
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the saint it is named after and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and has since evolved to celebrate all things Irish. There are parades, parties and other festivities around the world but it is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Montserrat, and in Canada only in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The real St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish
The real St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish, according to the author of the book St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography. He was born in Britain in A.D. 390 and became interested in Christianity when he was in his late teens. He was kidnapped at 16 and enslaved in Ireland. He eventually escaped and was reuinited with his family but his dreams tell him to return to Ireland. He becomes a priest and returns to Ireland and spent the rest of his days trying to convert the Irish people to Christianity.
The shamrock
The shamrock that’s very much the traditional symbol of St. Patrick’s Day? It is said that St. Patrick wore the shamrock and it’s three leaves to signify the holy trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Did St. Patrick really banish all the snakes from Ireland?
St. Patrick did not banish snakes from Ireland. The story has it that the lack of snakes in Ireland is thanks to the saint, who is said to have chased them into the sea when they attacked him when he was on a 40-day fast. But according to experts, snakes have never been in Ireland so this story is a myth as there never would have been any serpents for St. Patrick to banish.
St. Patrick’s Day by the numbers
In the U.S. about 122 million people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and 83 percent of them will wear green on that day. And how many will party? Almost one-third of them (31 percent). Erin go bragh! (which, in case you were wondering, means Ireland forever.)
