IF everyone around you has a spring in their step, is painting the town green, and ending work early to enjoy a pint of Guinness at the pub – that’s because today is St Paddy’s Day! This jubilant Irish holiday is celebrated the world over, and here are a few fun facts to get you in the spirit.
1. Chicago dyes its river green
In 1962, the Chicago River was dyed green in celebration of St Patrick’s Day, a tradition that continues in 2023. The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 pour around 50 pounds of environmentally safe dye into the Chicago River from Columbus Drive to State Street. This lasts around four to five hours and is quite a sight to behold!
2. America hosted first St Patrick’s Day parade
The saint has been celebrated in Ireland since the 1600s, but it was the Americans who, in true American style, brought the showmanship with the St Patrick’s Day Parade. It was the homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military in Boston and New York in 1737 that brought over this colourful heritage still celebrated today.
3. St Patrick was born in Britain
Despite being honoured by Irish and Northern Irish nations, St Patrick was actually born in Britain (Scotland or Wales) to Roman parents in the late fourth century. When he was 16, he is believed to have been kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold in slavery to a Celtic priest in Northern Island before escaping to Britain around six years later. He eventually returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary.
4. No more blues
Green is undoubtedly the colour most associated with St Patrick’s Day, but the saint’s original colour was actually blue. It was only after the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century that the colour green became linked with St Patrick’s Day.
5. The snake legend uncovered
One of the most famous legends is that St Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. And, while no indigenous snakes reside there, researchers believe that no snakes ever did actually live there. According to fossil records, there were no snakes since the last glacial period, before which it would’ve been too cold for the reptiles.
6. Celtic fairies
Another symbol commonly associated with St Patrick’s Day is the cheeky Leprechaun, a small, red-haired individual constantly searching for pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s believed this imagery is taken from folklore with Celtic fairies the original Leprechaun.
7. The shamrock metaphor
The shamrock – three-leafed clover – is another common symbol associated with the day as it’s believed St Patrick used the shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when introducing Christianity to Ireland. The four-leafed clover, found on St Patrick’s Day, is believed to bring an extra dose of luck.
8. Cheers to Guinness
The Irish are renowned for enjoying a drink or two, particularly Guinness – a drink that is hugely popular on this day in particular. In fact, around 13 million pints are consumed on this day across the globe, with spending estimated at around $4.6 billion.
9. What’s in a name?
We may know him as St Patrick but, as with all saints, he had another name previously. In this case, Maewyn Succat, but he took the name ‘Patricius’ after becoming a priest, which was changed to Patrick for English speakers.
SOURCES:
https://www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-facts
20 Surprising And Interesting St Patrick’s Day Facts For 2023☘️
https://worldstrides.com/blog/2017/03/9-interesting-st-patricks-day-facts/
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