I admit, as a non-Irish American, I did not know much about St Patrick’s Day, and since I love learning about fun stuff, I did some research. I was pleasantly surprised as to how many really cool St Patrick’s Day fun facts there are out there. So I had to share! The source can be viewed by clicking on the underlined words. Enjoy!

1. St Patrick’s Day – Origin

St Patrick’s Day actually first started out as a religious holiday honoring Saint Patrick, who was a missionary in Ireland and was known for bringing Christianity to the island. Over the years it has evolved into a holiday celebrating all things Irish.

2. His Early Years

St Patrick was born in what would now be considered England, from Roman citizen parents in 385 AD. When he was 16 years old, Irish raiders kidnapped him and sold him as a slave.

He spent most of his time herding sheep, until he managed to escape at 22 years old. He made his way back to England and spent the next 12 years in a monastery learning about God. He then made his way back to Ireland as a missionary and dedicated the next 40 years of his life to teaching the Irish people about God.

3. His Name

His name is really not St. Patrick. The name given to him at birth is said to have been Maewyn Succat. He then changed it to Patricius (also known as Patrick), when he became a priest, as in Latin it means “father figure“.

4. The Shamrock

There are many stories of what the shamrock symbol represents, but really St Patrick used it to teach others about the Holy Trinity. The three leaves on the shamrock represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sounds like he basically used it as an object lesson; showing how three things (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit/the three leaves) can still be one thing (God/a shamrock).

5. The Four Leaf Clover

The four leaf clover is basically a mutation of the shamrock and therefore is considered extremely rare. So rare that the ratio of shamrock (or 3 leaf clover) to a four leaf clover is 10,000 to 1. Due to its rarity, it has become a symbol of good luck.

It has been said that your best bet of ever finding a four leaf clover would be in Ireland, hence the term “luck of the Irish”. During the middle ages, children believed that if they had a four leaf clover with them then they could see fairies.

6. The Snakes

Legend has it that St Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. It is true that there are no snakes in Ireland now, but chances are there probably never were. The waters around Ireland and the climate in Ireland are far too cold for snakes. It is believed that the term “snakes” actually referred to the pagan beliefs on the island, and not the reptiles.

7. The Color Green

The color blue is actually the original color associated with St Patrick’s Day. Many pieces of artwork that include St Patrick show him wearing quite a bit of blue. Also, Irish flags for many years were blue.

The color green replaced blue, as green became the color associated with Ireland. The country receives plenty of rainfall and therefore has lots of greenery. As a result, it is known as the “Emerald Isle”. Additionally, the shamrock that St Patrick used to teach about the Holy Trinity is also green.

8. March 17th

St Patrick died on March 17, 461 AD. It is believed that St Patrick spent his life in Ireland converting pagans to Christianity and therefore when he died on March 17th, he entered heaven. As a result, this day of entering heaven is what is celebrated, not his birthday.

9. St Patrick’s Day – Evolved

There are 4.8 million people in Ireland today. During The Potato Famine, Ireland’s population drastically decreased. Many died of starvation or disease due to the diseased crops and lack of food. 1.5 million adults and children came to America between 1845 and 1855 seeking refuge. 32.7 million Americans claim they have Irish roots. That is almost seven times the amount of people in Ireland itself.
As Irish people started populating other parts of the globe, St Patrick’s day evolved into a celebration of all things Irish. The New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade was the World’s first St Patrick’s Day parade, which took place on March 17, 1762. The parade has become a popular annual event, which even President Truman attended in 1948.

10. Leprechauns

Leprechauns have nothing to do with St Patrick himself. They have slipped into the celebration of St Patrick’s Day as it evolved into the celebration of everything that is Irish. Leprechauns are basically short mischievous fairies who have become known as Irish symbols.

Sometimes leprechauns have been depicted as mean little men that make shoes and hide their money in pots of gold stashed away at the end of rainbows. And then sometimes leprechauns have been portrayed as cute little guys that like to play jokes on people. If you happen to ever catch one, they will give you three wishes in order to be released.

Legend has it that if a person wears the color green, then they are invisible to leprechauns and so leprechauns pinch those that are not wearing green (as they are visible to them). So on St Patrick’s Day, people tend to pinch those not wearing green as well.

11. A National Holiday

St Patrick’s Day became a national holiday in Ireland in 1903. With Ireland having a large Catholic population and the holiday falling on the calendar during Lent, there was a law passed that forbid pubs to be open for business on March 17th. This was in hopes of preventing the sin of excessive drinking.

In 1961 the law was repealed. Now, St Patrick’s day is believed to rank fourth on the list of holidays that seem to involve the most drinking. Unfortunately, this results also in an increase in the numbers of auto accidents.
St Patrick’s Day is also a public holiday in the Canadian province, Newfoundland & Labrador and in Montserrat. Montserrat is a tiny island that is also known as the “Emerald Island of the Caribbean”.

12. Celebrating St Patrick’s Day

According to a report by Wallethub more than half of Americans celebrate St Patrick’s Day and 83% of those that celebrate, wear something green.

So are you planning on celebrating St Patrick’s Day this year? If so, how do you celebrate? Do you have any St Patrick’s Day fun facts to share? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below! However you do choose to celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year- have a lot of fun, but please stay safe.

In honor of St Patrick’s Day, I conclude with this fun Irish blessing:

May there always be work for your hands to do

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
~ Susie