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St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.
St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes represent the pagans that he converted to Christianity.
The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.
In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green.
In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.
Most Catholics attend mass in the morning and then attend the St. Patrick's Day parade.
Shamrocks are worn on the lapel on this day.
In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair
Many young people dye their hair green for the special day.
Many people wear green on this holiday to avoid being pinched.
The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.
Many bars in the United States, and abroad, serve green beer to celebrate St. Patty's Day.
Lucky Charms, a favorite cereal brand among many, young and old, was created in 1963, with its popular mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun.
12 comments:
Very interesting! Lot's of fun facts. And gives new meaning to "Green River". :)
Great to celebrate different Saints days I think.
St Patrick was a slave.
He went to England too before he went to Ireland.
Interesting! Things I never knew! Thanks for sharing!
Super fun facts about St Patrick's Day.
We used to celebrate St. Patrick's day with friends every year and then they moved away. We'll have to find a new family to celebrate with.
Great post.
I feel more educated today! Thanks for sharing. :)
Very interesting!
Great timely and fun facts!
I didn't know that. All I knew was that it's a big day for drinking.
Thanks for the facts!
I enjoyed reading your fun facts about St. Pat's day. The bars here in Boston serve green beer.
Thank you for sharing these very interesting facts!
Interesting. I didn't know the color was actually blue!
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