Happy St. Patrick's Day March 17

Here are a few facts and a few myths debunked.
Although Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Roman-occupied Britain in the fourth century to wealthy parents. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest.

The young Maewyn was kidnapped and sold into slavery by Irish raiders who robbed his family home when he was only 16 years old.

St. Patrick did convert 
many pagans to Christianity, but the story of his driving all the snakes out of Ireland during 
his 40-day fast on a hilltop is not true. ­ The legend of the snakes is likely a metaphor for St. Patrick’s having driven evil out of Ireland.

St. Patrick’s Day falls on the anniversary of Patrick’s death on March 17 in the fifth century. His followers in Ireland began to celebrate his feast day on that day during the ninth and tenth centuries, even though he was never formally canonized by a pope.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world.

Ireland’s prime minister gives the U.S. president an Irish cut-glass bowl filled with shamrocks, the three-leafed sprig that is one of the state’s emblems. The tradition dates back to 1952, when the first Irish ambassador to America, John 
Joseph Hearne, reportedly dropped off a 
box of shamrocks for Harry Truman

Members of the Order of St. Patrick actually used blue as their symbolic color. The shade: St. Patrick’s blue.

Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day really are not related, aside from the fact that they are both Irish. Leprechauns didn’t become a staple of Irish literature until many years after St. Patrick’s famed journey through Ireland. There are no female leprechauns.


Incidentally, until 1961, there were laws in Ireland that banned bars to be open on March 17. Since the holiday falls during the period of Lent in the heavily Catholic country, the idea of binge drinking seemed a bit immoral. Also, Éirinn go Brách, means roughly "Ireland Forever."