Every year on March 17, millions of people gussy themselves up in green attire, hold big parades and drink lots of beer, all in the name of an old Irish saint. But what’s the history of this green holiday, and why do we celebrate it with shamrocks and alcohol?
1. Why March 17?
March 17 is the death date of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint.
2. First parade
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in the United States on March 17, 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.
3. Irish ancestry
There are 34.7 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry. This number is more than seven times the population of Ireland itself.
4. Shamrock
Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock as a metaphor for the Christian Trinity. However, the shamrock may have been important even before the coming of Christianity. In pre-Christian Ireland, three was a significant number; there were many triple deities and the triple spiral appears at many pagan religious sites.
5. Leprechaun
The earliest known reference to the leprechaun appears in the medieval tale known as the Adventure of Fergus son of LĂ©ti. Before the 20th century, the leprechaun wore red, not green. Modern depictions are often based on derogatory stereotypes for the Irish.
6. What’s in a name
Irish soda bread gets its name and distinctive character from the use of baking soda rather than yeast.