St. Patrick’s Day

1. St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. But for all of his prevalence in culture, namely the holiday held on the day of his death that bears his name, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.

2. St. Patrick’s Day occurs annually on March 17 in observance of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland  What began as a religious feast day in the 17th century has evolved into a variety of festivals across the globe celebrating Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green.

3. The first documented St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Philadelphia was held in 1771. Philadelphia’s friendly sons of St. Patrick was found to honor St. Patrick and to provide relief to Irish immigrants in the city. Irish Americans have celebrated St. Patricks Day in Philadelphia since their arrival in America.

4. The green of the Irish flag represents the the official color for St. Patrick’s Day.

5. -The humble shamrock was originally a teaching tool.

-St. Patrick is said to have used the three-leaved plant to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.

-The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in New York in the 1960s