Celebrated on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is renowned for its greenery, shamrocks, and parades. Although many people link this day with Irish culture, this joyous occasion is far more complex than it first appears. These interesting and unexpected facts about St. Patrick’s Day may surprise you.
St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish
Despite being Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick wasn’t truly Irish. Around the end of the fourth century, he was born in Roman Britain, and at the age of sixteen, he was abducted by Irish invaders.
He fled back to Britain after being a slave in Ireland for a number of years, but later, as a missionary, he went back to Ireland and was influential in the conversion of the Irish to Christianity.
The Shamrock Has Special Meaning
The three-leaf clover, or shamrock, is a primary emblem of St. Patrick’s Day. According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the Irish the Christian notion of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Since then, Irish heritage has come to be represented by this simple yet powerful sign. So, you should wear something with a shamrock on if you want to celebrate this day properly.
The First St. Patrick’s Day Parade Was Held in America
In 1601, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in St. Augustine, Florida, not in Ireland. This parade, which was organized by Irish settlers, was centuries before the ones that were conducted in Dublin. Parades are now a staple of St. Patrick’s Day festivities all throughout the world.
Green Wasn’t Always the Color of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day was originally connected with the color blue, but today it is often associated with green. “St. Patrick’s Blue” was a meaningful hue in Irish history, and early representations of St. Patrick frequently included him wearing blue robes. In the 18th century, green gained popularity as a tribute to Ireland’s lush surroundings and its connection to shamrock.
St. Patrick Didn’t Drive Snakes Out of Ireland
The idea that St. Patrick expelled all snakes from Ireland is among the most well-known myths about him. But according to scientific data, the island was never home to snakes in the first place because of its frigid temperature and remote location from mainland Europe, which made it unsuitable for snakes. The narrative most likely serves as a metaphor for St. Patrick’s attempts to purge pagan customs from Ireland.
Guinness Sales Skyrocket on St. Patrick’s Day
Guinness, the well-known Irish beer, has one of its busiest days of the year on St. Patrick’s Day. On March 17, almost 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed globally, which is almost twice as much as is sold on a typical day. This astounding figure demonstrates the holiday’s widespread appeal and connection to Irish culture.
St. Patrick’s Day Is a Public Holiday in Only a Few Places
Although St. Patrick’s Day is observed all over the world, only a few places—Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Caribbean island of Montserrat—have declared it a public holiday. Since these areas have close historical and cultural links to Ireland, the holiday is seen as a day for celebration and relaxation.
St. Patrick’s Day Used to Be a Solemn Occasion
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated as a religious feast day before it spread over the world as a festival. Due to the seriousness of the event, Irish bars were closed on March 17 for many years. The festival didn’t start to take on its more cheerful and joyful tone until the 20th century.
