10 St. Patrick’s Day Facts You Never Knew Before

Did you know that wearing head-to-toe green and drinking Guinness actually has nothing to do with the real St. Patrick?

Even more surprising? Saint Patrick is not even his real name. Here are 10 facts about St. Patrick’s Day that will rock your world.

Three women celebrate St. Patrick. Paul FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images

Saint Patrick was actually British

Although he is one of Ireland’s most famous figures, Patrick was born around 390 in present-day England, Scotland or Wales.

As the story goes, he was kidnapped and enslaved at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland. Then he fled to a monastery in Gaul (around present-day France), where he converted to Christianity. There he became a priest and then a bishop.

He returned to Ireland in 432 as a missionary, where he played a major role in the conversion of the Irish to Christianity. After his death, he was declared the patron saint of Ireland.

His real name was Maewyn Succat

Yes, you read that right. Maewyn Succat was his name until he changed it to Patrick when he became bishop.

It’s March 17th not saint patrick’s birthday

Observers of St. Patrick’s Day who may have thought they were celebrating the saint’s birthday will be surprised to learn that March 17, 461 AD is actually the day he died.

Women throw clubs at the St. John’s Day parade. Patrick. PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images All the lucky celebrities born on St.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade happened in America, not Ireland

The first parade was held in New York in 1762. As the number of Irish immigrants entering the United States increased, St. Patrick’s Day quickly became a widespread holiday.

According to Metro NY, approximately 150,000 people generally participate in the parade in New York each year, and about 2 million people come to watch it.

Saint Patrick had no snakes to ward off

Legend has it that St. Patrick chased Irish snakes into the sea, cleansing the land of its “evil.” However, research contradicts this story, indicating that snakes never inhabited the Emerald Isle – as the entire island was once covered in ice, and there is no fossil evidence of snakes in the region.

It used to be a dry holiday

St. Patrick’s Day was considered a religious holiday in Ireland for most of the 20th century, so all pubs closed on March 17. After it became a national holiday in 1970, everything changed and pubs became a place to celebrate for many people.

Everyone should wear blue, not green

Blue it was actually the color most associated with Patrick, and green was considered unlucky. Blue is still considered a symbol of Ireland — so how did green become the color of choice for those who don’t want to be pinched?

Historically, green was the color associated with the series of Irish rebellions that took place to gain independence from the English crown. The color stuck after waves of Irish immigrants came to America and began wearing green and carrying the Irish flag to show their pride for their homeland.

People wearing green hats at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Patrick. Theo Wargo/Getty Images

The shamrock was NOT originally used as a teaching tool

Many believe that St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to teach others about the Christian Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but this has not been proven to be true.

However, the number three was a sacred number in Irish mythology, so it makes sense that the shamrock holds that connection to the Holy Trinity—just probably not in an edifying way.

The 10 best Irish musicians of all time, in honor of St. Patrick

There are no female leprechauns

Have you ever wondered why you’ve never seen a lady leprechaun? The answer is: They don’t exist!

There is no information about female leprechauns, and what is even more interesting is that leprechauns are considered part of the fairy family. Some have even said that leprechauns are discarded fairies who have been pushed out by the fairy community, which explains why they are usually described as grumpy creatures prone to mischief.

Corned beef and cabbage is an American invention

Yes, it’s true! The classic St. Patrick’s Day dish — made with minced meat, potatoes and fried onions — doesn’t originate in Ireland at all. While ham and cabbage were traditional Irish foods, corned beef became a more affordable alternative for Irish Americans, according to History.com.

And here’s a fun fact: Corned beef, despite its name, does not contain corn. The term “corn” actually refers to the large grains of salt historically used for roasting meat, known as “corn”.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education