Are you be wearing your green today? Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." So get your green on today and impress your friends and family with these fun facts about St. Patrick's Day!1. St. Patrick, contrary to popular belief, was not Irish and was not born in Ireland. He was born in Britain.
2. His real name is believed to be Maewyn Succat and he took on the name Patrick upon becoming a priest. Imagine saying "Happy Maewyn Succat's
Day" every year!
3. When he was about 16, St. Patrick was captured from his home by
Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. He was taken as a
slave to Ireland where he lived for six years herding sheep before escaping
and returning to his family.
4. He later became a devout Christian and priest, retuned to Ireland
and spent most of his life converting the pagans of Ireland to Christianity.
5. St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy
Trinity when preaching.
6. St. Patrick's Day was not originally associated with the color
green. Hard to believe, but it was the color blue! In several artworks, St.
Patrick is depicted wearing blue vestments. Green became associated with St.
Patrick during the 19th century, presumably by his use of shamrocks to
explain the Holy Trinity. This lead to the traditional green attire worn by
many on St. Patrick's Day.
7. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious
holiday. In fact, up until the 1970's, Irish laws mandated that pubs be
closed on March 17th. Since then, St. Patrick's Day was reclassified as a
national holiday - allowing the taps to flow freely once again!
8. In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green every year.
9. The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland but in
Boston in 1737.
10. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th because this date
commemorates his death. He died on March 17th in 461 AD.
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