As I lace up my favorite green sneakers, I can already feel the excitement inside me for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The streets will soon be alive with laughter and music, and I can almost taste the rich, creamy Guinness waiting for me at the end of the route.
But this year, I’m on a mission to uncover the hidden gems of St. Patrick’s Day that most people overlook. In this article, I’ll share 20 shocking secrets about the holiday that will surprise even the most seasoned celebrants.
So, grab your shamrock and settle in—you won’t want to miss these fun facts that will make your St. Paddy’s celebration even more unforgettable!
1. St. Patrick’s original color was blue, not green.
St. Patrick wore blue robes at the Order of St. Patrick. However, the shift to green for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations occurred in the 18th century, aligning with the rise of Irish nationalism and the shamrock as a resistance against British rule.
The transition from blue to green reflects Ireland’s broader cultural and political changes. Green has become synonymous with Irish heritage and pride, overshadowing the original association with blue.
2. St. Patrick Day’s namesake was British, not Irish.
Despite being known as the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick was born in Britain to a wealthy Romano-British family in the late 4th century. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland.
Despite his British origins, St. Patrick returned to Ireland as a priest and bishop to convert the Irish to Christianity. Although he’s strongly associated with Irish culture today, it was after his death that he became the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
3. St. Patrick was originally named Maewyn Succat.
The name “Patrick” was not his birth name but a title he adopted later. After becoming a priest, he was initially named Maewyn Succat and was given the name “Patricius” (Latin for Patrick).
4. St. Patrick used the shamrock to introduce Christianity to Ireland.
The three-leaf clover shamrock is closely associated with St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, which consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three persons in one God.
5. St. Patrick did not banish snakes from Ireland.
St. Patrick is credited with banishing snakes from Ireland, but there is little evidence that snakes ever inhabited the island. The legend of St. Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland is a popular tale that symbolizes his role in converting the Irish to Christianity.
Ireland’s climate and geography are not conducive to snakes, making it unlikely they ever existed there.
6. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in America was held in Boston in 1737.
On March 17, 1737, Boston became the first North American city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade. The Charitable Irish Society of Boston organized the parade as a gesture of solidarity among the new Irish immigrants.
7. The Chicago River turns bright green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Dyeing the Chicago River green began in the early 1960s when a plumber noticed that a dye used for clothing turned the river a vibrant green. Since 1962, they have continued the tradition by dumping dye into the river for St. Patrick’s Day.
For about five hours, 40 pounds of eco-friendly dye are used to color the river. The event has become a major attraction, drawing people to participate in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including a parade and celebrations.
8. The Irish prime minister presents the U.S. president with a bowl of live shamrocks.
The tradition started in 1952 when Irish Ambassador John Hearne delivered a box of shamrocks to President Harry Truman, seen as an attempt to warm relations between the two countries. Since then, the shamrock has been used to decorate coins, medals, and coat lapels.
9. St. Patrick’s Day started as a Catholic Feast Day.
St. Patrick’s Day originated in 1631 as a Feast Day to honor St. Patrick, established by the Catholic Church. The holiday was brought to the U.S. by Irish immigrants and evolved into a celebration of Irish-American pride and Irish culture worldwide.
13. Green was associated with St. Patrick’s Day following Irish rebellions.
The color green has political origins in Ireland. It dates back to the Great Irish Rebellion of 1641, when Catholic local leaders revolted against the English crown, using a green flag with a harp as an emblem.
Green was worn again during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The Irish forces promoted the nationalistic ballad “The Wearing of the Green,” which immortalized the color’s connection with Ireland.
14. The Irish government promoted St. Patrick’s Day.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin was first organized in the early 1950s, inspired by Irish Americans. Dublin Tourism took over the parade, and a St. Patrick’s Day Committee was established, which expanded the festival from a weekend to a week.
The government officially established the weeklong St. Patrick’s Day Festival in 1995, and an Irish government campaign promoted the holiday that year.
15. “Lucky” four-leaf clovers exist but are rare.
The common three-leaf clovers are often linked with the saint and his holiday. However, much attention has been given to “lucky” four-leaf clovers.
A recessive trait is necessary for the development of a fourth leaf. This rarity makes the plants real but uncommon.
16. There are no female leprechauns in Irish folklore.
The absence of female leprechauns in Irish folklore contributes to their solitary and grouchy nature, as they are often described as the unwanted children of the fairy community.
This lack of female counterparts raises intriguing questions about their origins and existence, suggesting that they were never intended to procreate in a conventional sense.
17. St. Patrick’s Day was once a dry holiday in Ireland.
St. Patrick’s Day was traditionally a religious holiday in Ireland, with pubs closed and alcohol sales prohibited to maintain the occasion’s solemnity. In 1970, it was declared a national holiday.
This proclamation transformed the day into a celebration marked by parades, green attire, and beer consumption, particularly Guinness. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture, synonymous with revelry and public festivities.
18. The world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade is in New York City.
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held annually since 1762, is the largest and one of the oldest civilian parades in the world. This grand event attracts around 2 million spectators and features 150,000 to 250,000 participants.
The parade lasts about six hours and covers a 1.5-mile route, with a notable stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It does not allow floats and focuses on traditional elements of Irish culture, like bagpipes and marching bands.
19. On St. Patrick’s Day, over 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed globally.
The staggering over 13 million pints of Guinness consumed on St. Patrick’s Day highlights its significance in promoting Irish culture worldwide. This consumption translates to nearly two million gallons of the iconic stout, enough to fill a small lake.
The tradition of enjoying Guinness on this day is so widespread that it marks a 174% increase in overall beer sales, making St. Patrick’s Day the top drinking holiday in the United States.
20. March 17 is not St. Patrick’s birthday.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was not born on March 17. His actual birthday is unknown, but March 17 is traditionally celebrated as the day he died, around 461 AD.
Many people mistakenly believe they are celebrating St. Patrick’s birthday on March 17, but in reality, it marks the anniversary of his death and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.