Three people dressed as leperchauns.Photo: PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty
Did you know that wearing head-to-toe green and drinking Guinness actually have nothing to do with the real Saint Patrick?
Even more surprising? Saint Patrick isn’t even his real name. Here are 10St. Patrick’s Dayfacts that will shamrock your world.
Three women celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.Paul FAITHPAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images
Saint Patrick was actually British
Although he’s one of Ireland’s most celebrated figures, Patrick was born around the year 390 in what is now England, Scotland or Wales.
As the story goes, he was kidnapped and enslaved at age 16 and brought over to Ireland. He then escaped to a monastery in Gaul (around present-day France), 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.
His real name was Maewyn Succat
Yes, you read that correctly. Maewyn Succat was his name until he changed it to Patrick when he became a bishop.
March 17 isnotSaint Patrick’s birthday
St. Patrick’s Day observers who might have thought they were celebrating the saint’s birthday will be surprised to learn that March 17, 461 AD is actually the day he died.
Women tossing batons at a St. Patrick’s Day parade.PAUL FAITH/AFP/Getty Images
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade happened in America, not Ireland
Thefirst parade took place in New York City in 1762. With an increase of Irish immigrants entering the United States, St. Patrick’s Day quickly became a widespread holiday.
According toMetro NY,approximately 150,000 people generally participate in the New York City parade each year and around 2 million people come out to watch.
St. Patrick had no snakes to banish
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 theentire island was once covered in ice, and thereis no fossil evidenceof snakes in the region.
It used to be a dry holiday
St. Patrick’s Day was considered a religious holiday in Ireland for most of the 20th century, soall 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.
Everyone should be wearing blue, not green
Bluewas actually the color that was most associated with Patrick andgreen was considered unlucky. 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 toa series of Irish rebellionsthat 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.
People wearing green hats at a St. Patrick’s Day parade.Theo Wargo/Getty Images
The shamrock was NOT originally used as a teaching tool
Many believe that St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to teach others about the Christian Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit), butthat hasn’t been proven to be true.
However, the number three was a sacred number in Irish mythology, so it does make sense for the shamrock to hold that connection to the Holy Trinity — just likely not in an instructive way.
There are no female leprechauns
Ever wonder why you’ve never seen a lady leprechaun? The answer is: They don’t exist!
Corned beef and cabbage is an American invention
Yes, it’s true! The classic St. Patrick’s Day dish — made with chopped meat, potatoes and fried onions — didn’t originate in Ireland at all. While ham and cabbage were traditional Irish fare, corned beef became a more affordable alternative for Irish Americans,per History.com.
And here’s a fun fact: Despite its name, there’s no corn in corned beef. The term “corned” actually refers to the sizable grains of salt historically used to cure meats, known as “corns.”
source: people.com
