03/17/2026
For starters, who WAS St. Patrick? St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, not Ireland. His real name was Maewyn Succat. He was kidnapped at age 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped to a monastery in Gaul where he converted to Christianity. That’s where he became a priest and then eventually a bishop. He returned to Ireland in 432 as a missionary, where he played a major role in converting the Irish to Christianity. After his death, he was named Ireland’s patron saint.
🍀The Church established St. Patrick's feast day on March 17 in 1631.
🍀A common misconception is that March 17th was chosen to commemorate St. Patrick's birthday, but it's actual the day of his death - March 17, 461
🍀The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in America, not Ireland.
🍀Shamrocks are a symbol of St. Patrick's Day because St. Patrick used a clover to explain the Trinity.
🍀Legend says that St. Patrick drove Ireland's snakes into the sea, purging the land of all "evil." However, research contradicts this tale, indicating that snakes never inhabited the Emerald Isle — as the entire island was once covered in ice, and there is no fossil evidence of snakes in the region.
🍀Leprechauns are mischievous Irish fairies that are commonly associated with St. Patrick's Day.
🍀Corned beef and cabbage is an American invention.
🍀St. Patrick’s Day was considered a religious holiday in Ireland for most of the 20th century, so all pubs would close on March 17. Once it became a national holiday in 1970, everything changed and pubs became a go-to spot for many to celebrate.
🍀Blue was actually the color that was most associated with Patrick and blue is still considered symbolic of Ireland — so how did green become the go-to hue for those who don’t want to get pinched? Historically, green has been the color that’s been linked to a series of Irish rebellions that took place in order to gain independence from the English crown. The color stuck once waves of Irish immigrants made their home in America and began wearing green and carrying the Irish flag to show their pride for their home country.
SlĂ inte Mhath, travelers!
