Fun trivia and random facts about Saint Patrick and his day......

~What is the deal with green?  The color green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day but is really a representation of the Irish Independence movement in the late 18th century.  Saint Patrick's color was actually light blue.

~Did you know Saint Patrick was not even Irish?  He was actually born in Great Britain to Roman parents sometime during the 4th century (?390 A.D.).

~And his name at birth was actually Maewyn Succat.  He changed his name after becoming a priest.  I think that was a good idea.  Saying Happy Maewyn Succat Day is a little harder to pronounce.

~What is up with all that pinching?  Irish immigrants in the US started this tradition.  Apparently, they believe that wearing green would make you invisible to the leprechauns and fairies.  So obviously, if you are not wearing green, you get a pinch.

~Have you ever seen a female Leprechaun?  According to Irish folk tales, Leprechauns are only male.

~Saint Patrick wrote Confessio of Patrick.  He writes that when he was 16, Irish pirates captured him from his home in Great Britain and took him off to Ireland and forced him into slavery.  It took six long years for him to escape.



~Even though he was enslaved in Ireland, he returned to Ireland sometime in the year 432.  Saint Patrick was the first to bring Christianity to Ireland.

~Irish legend has it that Saint Patrick used a three-leafed plant (shamrock) as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he went to introduce Christianity.


~If you get a chance to visit Ireland, see if you can any snakes on the Emerald Isle.  Unless you are at the zoo, you probably will not be able to find any snakes.  According to the legends, Saint Patrick banished all of the snakes to the sea.

~Can you image that in one single day all around the world over $250 million dollars worth of beer is sold.  Whoa......

~Saint Patrick died on March 17, 461 A.D.  People all over the world celebrate this day as Saint Patrick's Day.  They may not know exactly why, they might be drinking green beer all day and night, and you will get pinched if you are not wearing green.  Sounds like fun to me!

May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.