Blake Hall
Shamrocks. Drinking. Green. Limericks. More drinking. Corned beef. Cabbage. Even more drinking.
All of these things are linked to the jolly celebration observed today (and on the weekends between) of a saint from across the pond who at one point “brought Christianity to the Irish people”.
Of course, very few honor it for this reason anymore. Rather, they see it as a day to honor heritage and family, or just kicking back, putting on a green hat and fake beard and imbibing ‘aplenty.
In that lush green spirit, here are a few things you probably didn’t know about St. Patrick’s Day.
1. St. Patrick was not Irish.
While he’s considered the patron saint of the country, he was actually born in Great Britain, and was brought to Ireland as a slave. He eventually escaped his captors, and returned to his native country.
2. No, St. Patrick didn’t “drive all the snakes out of Ireland”.
Because there are no snakes in Ireland. Never have been. Probably never will be either. The waters around the isle are too frigid for the animals to migrate through. It mostly likely stemmed from the parable of St. Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland — and in the process eradicating paganism, which was noted with symbolic snakes.
3. Lent, the Christian observance, birthed the tradition of drinking to excess.
Way before it was an excuse to drink, the day was set aside to honor the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death. During it, Christians were allowed to put their Lenten restrictions of food and alcohol on hold for 24 hours, and that usually lead to overdoing it. For some reason, the tradition stuck.
4. According to legend, St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the “Holy Trinity” — a Christian ideal — to people.
It’s also why people wear green on the holiday.
5. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother used to present bowls of shamrock to the Irish Guard — a regiment in the British Army — every year on St. Patrick’s Day.
The regiment consists mostly of soldiers from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
6. Every year, the city of Chicago dyes the Chicago River green.
A local plumbers union has been responsible for doing it every year now for over half a century.