Green clothes and loads of alcohol! That’s usually what many people associate St. Patrick’s Day with. A lot of people kinda skip over the information and significance of the day and it wasn’t always a gigantic celebration, it was a lot more than that. Fun fact, the whole celebration was actually something that started in the US back in 1737! To help you understand the day better, here are 7 more facts.
1. It Was Blue Before It Was Green
While the common colour associated with St. Patrick’s Day is green, it actually used to be blue. The addition of green came into the picture in the 19th century and became a tradition to commemorate St. Patrick’ use of shamrock in his religious teachings.
2. No More Snakes
The legend of St. Patrick says that he is celebrated for driving all the snakes out of Ireland, which to this day, is a snake-free zone. The only problem with this legend is that biologists now believe there were never snakes in Ireland.
3. St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish
The man we know as St. Patrick was born in Great Britain, named Maewyn Succat and was not religious. He was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Irish slave traders when he was only 16 and formed his religious beliefs while enslaved.
4. The First Parade Was Actually In The US
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in New York in 1762! The Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through the city to celebrate their religious feast day and Irish roots. However, the first parade in Ireland was actually in 1931!
5. It’s A Lot More Than Just A Clover
Shamrocks and clovers have long been associated with St. Patrick! The Celtics believed the clover to be sacred and that each leaf had a meaning. The first leaf is hope, the second is faith, the third is love and the fourth is luck.
6. It Actually Was A Dry Day
For most of the 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was considered a strictly religious holiday in Ireland, which meant that the nation’s pubs were closed for business on March 17. In 1970, the day was converted to a national holiday, and the beer resumed flowing.
7. It’s One Helluva Of A Business
Brewers around the world celebrate this day for another reason! It’s amazing for business. In 2012, it was estimated that the total amount earned by brewers in the US alone was 245 million dollars!
Know some more interesting facts? Let us know in the comments below.
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