Little Known Saint Patrick’s Day Facts That’ll Make You Feel Luckier

Wish us luck as we unpack and travel into the emerald heart of this unique holiday. Hopefully, we can avoid a cheeky leprechaun or two along the way… and stumble upon a pot of gold instead. 

As the story goes, at the age of 16, he fell into the calloused hands of Irish marauders, thrown into the dark and dingy hold of a pagan slave ship, and arrived on the shores of Ireland–where he spent six long years in captivity.

Some years later, again under the guidance of an angel, the young priest returned to the Emerald Isle of his captivity as a missionary to bring Christianity to the land. Patrick went on a mission to create schools, churches, and monasteries, tirelessly achieving his goals until his death on March 17th, 461 CE.

However, there is a twist in this tale. Some scholars believe Patrick ran away to Ireland to avoid inheriting his father’s job as a Roman tax collector, which was a dangerous profession as the great empire was crumbling. Whatever the truth, the ending is the same: Partick is the saint responsible for one of the most fabulous parties of the year!

The celebrations were a little more somber. As early as the 9th or 10th century, Christians were already celebrating this holy day with religious sermons and a hearty dinner for their guest of honor.

Over 1 million people swarm the streets of Dublin each year on March 17th to find a lucky Shamrock, drink their body weight in beer, and sing and dance to festive fiddling until the wee hours of the morning. Paddy’s Day fun has infected the world, with leprechaun costume sales soaring in over 200 countries in preparation for the official day of emerald-colored antics.

Chicago, Illinois, wins the award for the most famous St. Paddy’s Day green dream—with its largest river taking on this festive shade. This greening is no easy feat when you have 156 miles of water to St Patrick-ize before the thousands of revelers line its banks for the parades.

Other famous “greenings” include the London Eye in Britain, Germany’s Cochem Castle, Monaco’s Princes Palace, New York’s Empire State Building, the Opera House in Australia, and Niagra Falls in Canada. But did you know that green was almost blue?

So why the change to green? Green symbolized Ireland’s identity as the divide deepened between the Irish and British in the 18th century. Some say Ireland’s lush landscapes inspired the shift in shades, while others praise the mystical Shamrock for cheering up St. Patrick’s blues—after all, the Shamrock carries the luck of the Irish, does it not?

Digging deeper into the garden, Shamrocks represent faith, hope, and love, and if you happen to come across a four-leafed fellow, you will have the legendary luck of the Irish. But remember never to iron your four-leaf clover because you don’t want to press your luck!

Recording breaking has become somewhat of a tradition for this holiday—giving people a perfectly reasonable excuse to do the unthinkable, weirdest, and wildest things!

If you need another reason to grab a pint, now you have yet another excuse to enjoy your St. Paddy’s pint; it solves quarrels and puts a smile on everyone’s face. Plus side on Saint Patrick’s Day you can always blame the leprechauns if you get into a jam.

Strange ways of celebrating have become new traditions when it comes to March 17th. Cheeky Irish humor seems to infiltrate society, and St. Patrick’s Day certainly sets a whole bunch of shenanigans loose.

Or join hundreds of crazy people freezing their shamrocks off as they brave the icy Atlantic Ocean at 5:30 a.m. for the annual Paddy’s Day Plunge in Portland, Maine—all in the name of charity!

Even the final frontier isn’t beyond falling under the festive spell of St. Patrick’s Day. In 2011, astronaut Catherine Coleman gave an out-of-this-world performance when she played the flute and tin whistle aboard the International Space Station. This holiday also allows for flirty fun, especially if you are Irish.

But today, it’s a playful way of spreading love and happiness on March 17th., and a sassy excuse to steal a kiss from a shining shamrock nearby. However, myths are as integral to St. Patrick’s Day as pots of gold are to rainbows.

Over time, their image evolved from the sneaky sprites of bedtime stories to the jolly, green-suited mascots of March 17th—embodying the fun and cheekiness of St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. As they say, “Always be yourself, unless you can be a leprechaun.” Apart from dressing up as these funny faeries, this holiday loves beer.

A symbol of Ireland in itself, this drink is not for the faint-hearted, although it is extremely rich in Vitamin B and iron. For the perfect pint, it takes 119.5 seconds to pour. So let’s hope your bartender has got the goods! But one must fill one’s belly when drinking, and this holiday was traditionally all about the feast.

Try Colcannon, a creamy mix of potatoes and kale, or Boxty—Ireland’s answer, the Spanish omelet, cottage pie, and, of course, the infamous Irish Stew. Soda bread is a must, too, but make sure it has the obligatory cross in the center to keep the faeries out!

Krispy Kreme lends a green doughy-ness in tribute, while M&M’s makes it difficult to avoid the little emerald-colored choccies, dedicating the whole packet to the day. There is even a sweet little shamrock on each one for luck. But all the fun isn’t just for humans; pets get to enjoy this holiday too!

Social Media is rife with St. Paddy’s photos of pets parading in their festive greens. Pet-friendly pubs even hold the best-dressed competitions, and of course, pet parades are a must! While your pets may be able to join the fun, sadly, there will be no drinking games for them.

Green Beer Pong, Quart Quarters, and Irish Poker are the mainstays. Those who dare—play Sip If You See Green or someone with a half pint of beer (for which there is clearly no winner), or Gulp Guinness if you hear U2 and Sinead O’Connor throughout the day (again, clearly no winners). While the pubs flow with some silly fun, the day is steeped in tradition as much as it is in green.

Today, this holiday may have a more upbeat tone, but it still sings to its holy roots. On March 17th, churches overflow with a special mass honoring St. Patrick’s Day and its spiritual essence. As the bells toll and the doors open, the island blooms in green.

Pubs fill to the brim, tables are laden with feasts, and jolly cheer permeates every corner. The Irish have their quirky customs, too. “Drowning the Shamrock” invites you to pop a clover in your glass, fill it with whisky, beer, or cider, and toast to Paddy (you’ll either down the greenery or toss it over the shoulder for luck). But you don’t have to travel to Ireland to join the party; the USA loves this day.

All the crazy fun antics aside, the day still holds traditional roots, with religious gatherings and grand parades taking center stage, alongside cultural events showcasing Irish music, dancing, and food. One big Atlantic Ocean may separate Ireland and the USA, but the celebrations share a common Celtic thread.

Although both countries have their traditions, at the green heart of it all, each share a love of good craic, celebrating the communal spirit of laughter, joy, friendship—and a revered remembrance of St. Patrick’s legacy. Putting the bonded cheer aside, both countries are serious about their parades! Showcasing becomes a showdown.

But New York takes the clover crown for the oldest parade in the world. What started as a small group of homesick Irish ex-pats and servicemen in 1762 has swelled to over 150,000 people. The leprechaun-to-people ratio might be a little out of balance, but it is one heck of a party.

Wherever you may be, one thing is for sure: the infectious joy and parade pandemonium unites us all.

But calm your clover because the answer is quite clear. “Pádraig” is the Irish Gaelic name for Patrick, and the nickname for this is commonly known as Paddy. On the flip side, Patty is the diminutive for Patricia or a term lovingly used for burgers worldwide. So, in this case, St. Paddy’s may win, but in the end, as long as you are having a good time, then Irish blessings to you!

So tip your top hat, jingle your pot of gold, shake your shamrock, and raise your pint to the phenomenon that has become St. Patrick’s Day. Have fun, and remember there is a little bit of Irish in all of us. Sláinte!