Key Facts About St. Patrick’s Day
- Not Originally Green: Saint Patrick was historically associated with the color blue; green became popular later, largely due to Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle”.
- First Parade in America: Contrary to popular belief, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1601, not New York.
- The Myth of Snakes: Legend says St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland, but experts say it was likely a metaphor for converting pagan Irish to Christianity; post-glacial Ireland never had snakes.
- Not a Saint by Canonization: St. Patrick was never officially canonized by a Pope, as he lived in the 5th century before the formal canonization process was fully established.
- Chicago River Tradition: Since 1962, Chicago has turned its river green, originally as part of a city effort to track pollution.
- Corned Beef is American: While Irish immigrants in America ate corned beef and cabbage, this meal was a budget-friendly substitute for traditional bacon and cabbage in the U.S..
- Shortest Parade: The world’s shortest parade is often held in Dripsey, County Cork, lasting only 77 feet, according to thompsonhouse.ca.
- Dry Holiday: Until the 1960s, St. Patrick’s Day was a religious, “dry” holiday in Ireland, with pubs closed, say EF Education First.
The Real Saint Patrick
- He Was Not Irish: Patrick was born in Great Britain in the late 4th century, according to Lohud.com.
- Slave Turned Missionary: At 16, he was taken prisoner to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity before escaping, later returning to convert the Irish to Christianity, as reported by Lohud.com.
- The Shamrock Legend: Legend says he used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to people, according to Go City.
