Don't forget to wear green (or blue) on March 17th!
Saint Patrick's Day, also known as Saint Paddy's Day, is celebrated each year on March 17th to recognize the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick was credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Here are seven interesting facts about the holiday to get you into the spirit.
Saint Patrick's Day Facts
Below are seven interesting facts about Saint Patrick's Day:
The real Saint Patrick wasn't an Irish native. Historians believed he was born in Roman Britain to a Christian family. He traveled to Ireland where he spent much of his life as a Christian missionary.
Saint Patrick never got canonized by the Catholic Church, likely due to the era in which he lived when formal canonization didn't exist. However, he continues to be referred to as the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland. Many businesses close in celebration of this day and the patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick's Day is also referred to as The Feast of Saint Patrick, or the day commemorating the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
The Shamrock was considered a sacred plant that symbolized spring by the Celts. Saint Patrick presumably used a shamrock as a visual to explain the Holy Trinity. It's the national flower and symbol of Ireland.
The original color associated with Saint Patrick's Day was blue, not green. Henry VIII, when he declared himself the King of Ireland in the 16th century, declared blue as the color of the country. Paintings of Saint Patrick depicted him wearing blue. It was believed that the color associated with Saint Patrick's Day transitioned to green after it was adopted as the color of the Irish rebellion.
The first Saint Patrick's Day Parade was held in the United States, not in Ireland as many would assume. The earliest record of such parade took place in what's now St. Augustine, Florida. However, many sources consider the first official parade to take place in New York City on March 17th, 1737. The parade in NYC has been an annual event since then.
What's Next?
Interested in more fun facts about Saint Patrick's Day? I hope so because there are a lot more interesting facts about this holiday! Check out the online articles by Britannica and History Channel to dive into he history of the holiday.
Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day? Comment below to share how you celebrate this holiday each year.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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