Little Known Saint Patrick’s Day Facts That’ll Make You Feel Luckier

By: Kim Seidler | Last updated: Apr 08, 2024

March 17th is a global day of green fun, where myths, traditions, and spirited festivities blend into a phenomenon known as St. Patrick’s Day. But beyond the outlandish outfits, green-tinged beer, and wild parades, this holiday has an unexpected story.

Wish us luck as we unpack and travel into the emerald heart of this unique holiday. Hopefully, we can avoid a cheeky leprechaun or two along the way… and stumble upon a pot of gold instead. 

Who Art Thou Saint?

You would find it funny to know that Saint Patrick didn’t have the luck of the Irish. He was born to a well-to-do family near the end of the fourth century in no other than Great Britain. Although Patrick’s life was anything but beer and rainbows.

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Source: Illustration Purposes / Family & Pets

As the story goes, at the age of 16, he fell into the calloused hands of Irish marauders, thrown into the dark and dingy hold of a pagan slave ship, and arrived on the shores of Ireland–where he spent six long years in captivity.

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The Sweet Escape

According to Patrick, the ethereal voice of God came to him in a dream and told him to leave Ireland on a ship that was soon departing. He dutifully escaped, trudging 200 miles through boggy forests, finally reaching the port and boarding a cargo ship bound for his home shores (presumably Wales). Upon returning home, he began his path to priesthood.

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Some years later, again under the guidance of an angel, the young priest returned to the Emerald Isle of his captivity as a missionary to bring Christianity to the land. Patrick went on a mission to create schools, churches, and monasteries, tirelessly achieving his goals until his death on March 17th, 461 CE.

Becoming Saint Patrick

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was never officially canonized by the Catholic Church (as there was no formal ceremony in the 400s) but was widely acclaimed as a saint, so the title stuck. His passing date became a day of honorary celebrations.

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However, there is a twist in this tale. Some scholars believe Patrick ran away to Ireland to avoid inheriting his father’s job as a Roman tax collector, which was a dangerous profession as the great empire was crumbling. Whatever the truth, the ending is the same: Partick is the saint responsible for one of the most fabulous parties of the year!

Not Just Beers and Cheers

While today’s St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with parades and pints, its roots are spiritually grounded. Twelve centuries before the modern St. Paddy’s epidemic, the Irish celebrated their illustrious saint with a feast that didn’t involve copious amounts of booze, a delicious spread of emerald-colored goodies, or guests wearing oversized green top hats.

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Source: Illustration Purposes / Family & Pets

The celebrations were a little more somber. As early as the 9th or 10th century, Christians were already celebrating this holy day with religious sermons and a hearty dinner for their guest of honor.

Irish Get their Groove On

In 1903, it became an official public holiday. By the mid-1990s, the Irish could get to their Paddy truly on, with the Republic of Ireland transforming St. Patrick’s Day into an opportunity to showcase Ireland and its culture.

Source: Jacob Lund / Canva Pro

Over 1 million people swarm the streets of Dublin each year on March 17th to find a lucky Shamrock, drink their body weight in beer, and sing and dance to festive fiddling until the wee hours of the morning. Paddy’s Day fun has infected the world, with leprechaun costume sales soaring in over 200 countries in preparation for the official day of emerald-colored antics.

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Chicago Celebrates By Going Green

Beyond the Emerald Isle, on March 17th, global greening runs wild; rivers, iconic landmarks, and artwork flow and glow a vibrant green in honor of Ireland and St Patrick.

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Source: www.chicagoline.com/blog

Chicago, Illinois, wins the award for the most famous St. Paddy’s Day green dream—with its largest river taking on this festive shade. This greening is no easy feat when you have 156 miles of water to St Patrick-ize before the thousands of revelers line its banks for the parades.

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A Chicago Vegetable Dye Spectacle

The secret sorcery for this transformation requires over 100 pounds of eco-friendly vegetable-based dye cast into the waterway, creating a luminous green spectacle that lasts for a few days.

Source: ABC 7 Chicago / Youtube / Live Broadcast

Other famous “greenings” include the London Eye in Britain, Germany’s Cochem Castle, Monaco’s Princes Palace, New York’s Empire State Building, the Opera House in Australia, and Niagra Falls in Canada. But did you know that green was almost blue?

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St. Patrick's Had The Blues

Centuries before shades of green painted the world, St. Patrick was all about the blue—the color of his robes. Interestingly, the saint was a trailblazer, and his famous shade was named “St. Patrick Blue,” a color still found on paint palettes in local DIY stores today.

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Source: Illustration Purposes / Family & Pets

So why the change to green? Green symbolized Ireland’s identity as the divide deepened between the Irish and British in the 18th century. Some say Ireland’s lush landscapes inspired the shift in shades, while others praise the mystical Shamrock for cheering up St. Patrick’s blues—after all, the Shamrock carries the luck of the Irish, does it not?

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Shake Your Shamrocks

In other words, “Have some fun!”. The Shamrock, the emblem of St. Patrick’s Day, is more than just a cute little plant. This festive fellow is a type of three-leafed clover, which Patrick used as a theological tool to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, making it a potent symbol of faith.

Source: Kichigin (Canva Pro)

Digging deeper into the garden, Shamrocks represent faith, hope, and love, and if you happen to come across a four-leafed fellow, you will have the legendary luck of the Irish. But remember never to iron your four-leaf clover because you don’t want to press your luck!

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O'Neill, Nebraska Loves Showing Clover Love

In 2009, Mr. Obara in Iwate, Japan, made the world green with envy when he found a 56-leafed clover, which remains a record. O’Neill in Nebraska loves this cute clover so much that it has a giant shamrock (the largest in the world) painted in the main intersection. The painted plant serves as a dandy dance floor as green-frocked ladies do the sham-rock till the break of dawn.

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Source: Facebook / City of O'Neill, Nebraska

Recording breaking has become somewhat of a tradition for this holiday—giving people a perfectly reasonable excuse to do the unthinkable, weirdest, and wildest things!

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Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland Creates the Largest Leprechaun Sighting

While the largest pot of gold remains to be found, 1,236 people in Bandon, Co. Cork in Ireland, shouted, “The leprechauns made me do it,” as they won the record for the largest gathering of these cheeky characters in 2012. Originally called the Guinness Book of Records, this ultimate decree of record-breaking achievements started in the 1950s as a simple book of facts to solve pub arguments. 

Source: Guinness World Records / @GWR / Twitter (X)

If you need another reason to grab a pint, now you have yet another excuse to enjoy your St. Paddy’s pint; it solves quarrels and puts a smile on everyone’s face. Plus side on Saint Patrick’s Day you can always blame the leprechauns if you get into a jam.

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Dublin Kicks Off Largest Irish Dance Break

In Ireland, there are the many Saints of Patrick. In 2013, 882 Saint Patrick participants donned green robes in Castleknock, Dublin. While another 10,036 people in 2007 jigged their way into the record books in Dublin, Ohio with the largest Irish dance session in celebration of the day.

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Strange ways of celebrating have become new traditions when it comes to March 17th. Cheeky Irish humor seems to infiltrate society, and St. Patrick’s Day certainly sets a whole bunch of shenanigans loose.

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New London, Wisconsin All Roads Lead to Dublin

Who let the Leprechaun’s out? Someone does each year in New London, Wisconsin! With a smirk and a chuckle, they sneakily change all the signs (even on the highway) to “New Dublin” for the day. At least everyone will end up in the same spot for a pint and a side of crispy green fries.

Source: WLUK-TV FOX 11 / Youtube

Or join hundreds of crazy people freezing their shamrocks off as they brave the icy Atlantic Ocean at 5:30 a.m. for the annual Paddy’s Day Plunge in Portland, Maine—all in the name of charity!

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New Orleans St. Paddy's Party

If you love a good food fight, head to New Orleans for the annual St. Patrick’s Day street party. There, you’ll dodge and pelt your enemy with the ingredients of an Irish stew. Don’t worry—only underhanded throws are allowed, and apparently, cabbages don’t hurt when they hit you!

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Source: @stewartlimey / Instagram / www.neworleans.com

Even the final frontier isn’t beyond falling under the festive spell of St. Patrick’s Day. In 2011, astronaut Catherine Coleman gave an out-of-this-world performance when she played the flute and tin whistle aboard the International Space Station. This holiday also allows for flirty fun, especially if you are Irish.

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Some Celebrate With a Kiss Me, I'm Irish

Welcome to the ultimate pickup line for St. Paddy’s Day! “Kiss me, I’m Irish” is a cheeky nod to the Irish charm and good luck. The phrase’s origins goes back to the legend of the Blarney Stone, a symbol believed to bring luck to those who kiss it.

Source: Lightguard from Getty Images Signature (Canva Pro)

But today, it’s a playful way of spreading love and happiness on March 17th., and a sassy excuse to steal a kiss from a shining shamrock nearby. However, myths are as integral to St. Patrick’s Day as pots of gold are to rainbows.

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Why Are Leprechauns Legendary?

These naughty bearded folk, with their mischievous grins, trickster antics, and obsession with gold, were not always associated with St. Patrick’s Day. These mystical cobblers were more about trickery than cheer!

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Over time, their image evolved from the sneaky sprites of bedtime stories to the jolly, green-suited mascots of March 17th—embodying the fun and cheekiness of St. Paddy’s Day celebrations. As they say, “Always be yourself, unless you can be a leprechaun.” Apart from dressing up as these funny faeries, this holiday loves beer.

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Guinness Galore

On March 17th, Guinness is more than a drink; it’s an institution. Around 13 million pints of this dense, dark, creamy beer are consumed worldwide. This iconic drink, born from the barrels of Arthur Guinness in 1759, has seeped its way into the festivity fabric of this holiday.

Source: @GuinnessUS

A symbol of Ireland in itself, this drink is not for the faint-hearted, although it is extremely rich in Vitamin B and iron. For the perfect pint, it takes 119.5 seconds to pour. So let’s hope your bartender has got the goods! But one must fill one’s belly when drinking, and this holiday was traditionally all about the feast.

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Beyond Corned Beef

The star of the show at every pub on March 17th is Corned Beef and Cabbage. However, traditionally, in Ireland, it was bacon and potatoes. But there are no arguments that potatoes are the staple of the game, and there are plenty of ways to peel one at St. Paddy’s.

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Try Colcannon, a creamy mix of potatoes and kale, or Boxty—Ireland’s answer, the Spanish omelet, cottage pie, and, of course, the infamous Irish Stew. Soda bread is a must, too, but make sure it has the obligatory cross in the center to keep the faeries out!

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USA's McDonald's Minty Shamrock Shake

However, the USA, the lovers of crazy creations, have added their twist on the day—all of which have become iconic in their own green way. The McDonald’s Minty Shamrock Shake shot to fame in the 1970s—funding the first Ronald McDonald House.

Source: McDonald's USA

Krispy Kreme lends a green doughy-ness in tribute, while M&M’s makes it difficult to avoid the little emerald-colored choccies, dedicating the whole packet to the day. There is even a sweet little shamrock on each one for luck. But all the fun isn’t just for humans; pets get to enjoy this holiday too!

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St. Paddy's Day for Pets

It’s a thing. This leprechaun-filled day isn’t just for us; our four-legged friends get in on the action, too! Across the globe, pet owners deck out their furry friends in shamrock-shaped hats, green frocks and socks, nail polish, and yes, even leprechaun cossies, including the beard and pots of gold.

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Social Media is rife with St. Paddy’s photos of pets parading in their festive greens. Pet-friendly pubs even hold the best-dressed competitions, and of course, pet parades are a must! While your pets may be able to join the fun, sadly, there will be no drinking games for them.

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Guinness Games

It’s no secret that the Irish love a pint or three…and a good game. This holiday has inspired a tray full of popular and peculiar drinking games.

Source: Illustration Purposes / Family & Pets

Green Beer Pong, Quart Quarters, and Irish Poker are the mainstays. Those who dare—play Sip If You See Green or someone with a half pint of beer (for which there is clearly no winner), or Gulp Guinness if you hear U2 and Sinead O’Connor throughout the day (again, clearly no winners). While the pubs flow with some silly fun, the day is steeped in tradition as much as it is in green.

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Ireland's Day

Once upon a time, villagers donned hand-made St. Patrick’s Day badges, carried bundles of muddy shamrock dung, and went to Mass to sing to their patron saint.

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Source: Volodymyr Melnyk (Canva Pro)

Today, this holiday may have a more upbeat tone, but it still sings to its holy roots. On March 17th, churches overflow with a special mass honoring St. Patrick’s Day and its spiritual essence. As the bells toll and the doors open, the island blooms in green.

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Emerald Isle's Parade

Parades fill the streets of every city and town throughout the Emerald Isle. They feature elaborate floats, followed by throngs of dancers twirling and swirling to traditional jigs and reels of their homeland.

Source: islandlifenc.com

Pubs fill to the brim, tables are laden with feasts, and jolly cheer permeates every corner. The Irish have their quirky customs, too. “Drowning the Shamrock” invites you to pop a clover in your glass, fill it with whisky, beer, or cider, and toast to Paddy (you’ll either down the greenery or toss it over the shoulder for luck). But you don’t have to travel to Ireland to join the party; the USA loves this day.

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St Paddy’s The USA Way

America has celebrated St. Patrick’s Day since the early 1700s. With a long Irish history and 3.15 million of its citizens having Irish ancestry, it’s no wonder this day warms the hearts and cockles of many.

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All the crazy fun antics aside, the day still holds traditional roots, with religious gatherings and grand parades taking center stage, alongside cultural events showcasing Irish music, dancing, and food. One big Atlantic Ocean may separate Ireland and the USA, but the celebrations share a common Celtic thread.

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Transatlantic Antics

“Here’s to good Irish friends—never above you, never below you, always beside you.”

When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland and the USA embrace this saying like two peas in a green pod. Both countries celebrate with similar amounts of spirited cheer. While Ireland jigs through the day showcasing national pride, the USA marches in a massive display of proud Irish-American heritage.

Source: Day Time Chicago News / Youtube

Although both countries have their traditions, at the green heart of it all, each share a love of good craic, celebrating the communal spirit of laughter, joy, friendship—and a revered remembrance of St. Patrick’s legacy. Putting the bonded cheer aside, both countries are serious about their parades! Showcasing becomes a showdown.

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Parade Pandemonium

St. Paddy’s Day parades are a source of cultural pride. In Dublin, 500,000 people swarm the city to watch the spectacular spectacle of mythology, religion, arts, and theatre float down the streets in a burst of color.

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Source: Svetlanais from Getty Images Pro (Canva Pro)

But New York takes the clover crown for the oldest parade in the world. What started as a small group of homesick Irish ex-pats and servicemen in 1762 has swelled to over 150,000 people. The leprechaun-to-people ratio might be a little out of balance, but it is one heck of a party.

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Even Tokyo Joins Paddy's Day Fun

If samurai and anime characters are more your thing, Tokyo’s parade will grant you a cracking good time, or you can always head to the Australian outback to Broken Hill. The dusty mining town transforms into little Ireland to celebrate its annual St. Pats Race Day, a day of horseracing in the desert.

Source: tokyotreat.com

Wherever you may be, one thing is for sure: the infectious joy and parade pandemonium unites us all.

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St. Paddy's or St. Patty's

Now for the never-ending question that continues to bubble like Guinness beer. Is it St. Paddy’s or St. Patty’s? The confusion may stem from the phonetic twist between Irish and American English, or some will argue that both are correct.

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Source: www.yourdictionary.com

But calm your clover because the answer is quite clear. “Pádraig” is the Irish Gaelic name for Patrick, and the nickname for this is commonly known as Paddy. On the flip side, Patty is the diminutive for Patricia or a term lovingly used for burgers worldwide. So, in this case, St. Paddy’s may win, but in the end, as long as you are having a good time, then Irish blessings to you!

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There is No Right Way to Celebrate

As the world turns green on March 17th, in a global shindig of the traditional and the quirky remember at its core, it’s a day to celebrate the beauty and history of Ireland.

Source: Inigo Tena from Getty Images (Canva Pro)

So tip your top hat, jingle your pot of gold, shake your shamrock, and raise your pint to the phenomenon that has become St. Patrick’s Day. Have fun, and remember there is a little bit of Irish in all of us. Sláinte!

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