With St. Patrick’s day being right around the corner, not everyone knows how the holiday came to be about. Down below are just a few facts you probably didn’t know about St. Patrick’s Day.
We Should Really Wear Blue
Yes, really. St. Patrick would have to deal with pinching on his feast day. His color was a lighter shade of blue. The green only became associated when being linked to the Irish independence movement in the 18th century.
The Irish Take St. Patrick’s Day Seriously
Because St. Paddy introduced Christianity in Ireland, the holiday is practiced seriously in his old hometown. The holiday has influenced the Irish all around the world.
Shamrocks Have Meaning
According to Irish legend, the saint used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland. Today, shamrocks are used as a symbol of Irish identity and can be found on the uniforms of Irish sports teams.
There Are No Female Leprechauns
Although some movies have lady leprechauns in them, in the Irish tale, there is no such thing. Leprechauns were only males that spent their time either making shoes or searching for gold.
St. Patrick Was British
Although St. Patrick impacted Ireland by introducing Christianity, he himself wasn’t Irish. He was British and born to Roman parents in Scotland in the late 14th century.
First St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in New York in the 1760s. The essence of the parade was to honor St. Patrick for what he did for Ireland, including bringing Christianity to the Irish. Some famous St. Paddy’s Day Parades are The Pickle Parade, Dallas St. Patrick’s Day And Festival, and The Mckinney St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
Over 200 Years Celebrated At Sydney
In 2010, the Sydney Opera House honored St. Patrick by covering the house with green lights to mark the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Day. In Sydney, St Patrick’s Day was first marked in 1810, when Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of New South Wales, provided entertainment for Irish convict workers.
The Chicago Green River
Every year in Chicago, the Plumbers Local 110 Union, dyes the river green. This lasts about five hours and brings spirit to the whole community.
Shamrocks At The White House
Every year, the White House will have a bowl of shamrocks given to them by the Irish leader. The shamrock, grown in Kerry, is immediately destroyed by the Secret Service after the exchange
St. Patrick’s Day Sales
Although St. Patrick’s Day isn’t as big Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are still sales throughout this holiday season. Some of the biggest sales don’t only happen in stores, but also online. Some of the most popular sales during St. Patrick’s Day are Jcpenny, Amazon, Kohls, and even Lowe’s.
