Aside from attending various St. Patrick’s Day-related events throughout West Michigan, purchasing Irish items, and enjoying Irish food, what else can you do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
In short? Trivia! Gather together with your friends, loved ones, and fellow Beacon Hill residents, while sharing the following “tidbits” about the holiday with them.
By meeting up with them and talking about these likely unknown facts, you’ll have yet another opportunity to socialize and have fun with those you’re closest to!
A dry holiday? From the early 1900s to the 1970s, every pub in Ireland closed on St. Patrick’s Day. When you consider just how popular pubs are on St. Patrick’s Day now, this is truly a shocking fact from history!
A female saint? Many people don’t realize that Ireland has three patron saints: St. Patrick, St. Brigid of Kildare, and St. Columba. Of these three, one was a female, St. Brigid. In Ireland especially, she’s commemorated with a holiday, known as St. Brigid Day. It occurs every February 1st.
A longstanding tradition. On March 17 (or before), cities across America will have St. Patrick’s Day parades. One city hosted a parade to honor St. Patrick well before any other though—St. Augustine, Florida. Held on March 17, 1601, the parade is believed to be the world’s first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade.
An official holiday. Since 1903, St. Patrick’s Day has been recognized as an official holiday in Ireland. Will it eventually be recognized as one in the United States, too? Given its popularity throughout the country, maybe someday!
Another American tradition. Surprisingly, corned beef and cabbage originated in the United States too, rather than in Ireland. Most likely, Irish Americans began serving it in Lower Manhattan, either during the late 19th or early 20th century, depending on the source. With this in mind, why not continue this American tradition by relishing another plate of corned beef and cabbage this year?
British, rather than Irish? Yes, it’s true. St. Patrick wasn’t born in Ireland. Instead, he was likely born in Britain. When he was a teenager, he did live in Ireland though. The rest, as they say, is history.
Honoring a legacy. Did you know that St. Patrick’s Day was chosen for March 17th for a particular reason? On that day, St. Patrick actually passed away—likely in 461 AD. His passing continues to be commemorated all these years later, showcasing just how much of an impact his life has had on millions of people.
Leprechauns were fairies? Aside from St. Patrick himself and shamrocks, nothing is more associated with St. Patrick’s Day than leprechauns. You’ll see them everywhere this time of year—restaurants, stores, likely even Beacon Hill. But did you know that the Irish considered them fairies, often mean ones? Apparently, they’ve become known for being nicer and nicer as time has passed.
Not canonized. Most people don’t realize that St. Patrick was never canonized by a pope, which is often unusual for individuals that are described as saints. However, the Catholic Church has recognized him as a saint. In fact, other churches and denominations have too, including the Orthodox Church and Lutherans.
Succat or Patrick? Oftentimes, people are shocked to learn that Patrick wasn’t St. Patrick’s original name. Instead, it seems his birth name was actually Maewyn Succat. Throughout his life, he was known by different names, from Maewyn, to Cothriche, to Magonus and, ultimately, Patrick.
The shamrock as a visual. According to several Irish legends, St. Patrick used the shamrock as a visual to describe the Holy Trinity of Christianity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Over 1,000 years later, the shamrock is still associated with him!
The wrong color? Along with Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day is another holiday that’s especially renowned for showcasing green over and over again. But maybe we should be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with shades of blue instead? After all, according to photos, St. Patrick wore blue robes. And the Order of St. Patrick—established by King George III in 1873—used blue, rather than green, as its official color.
As you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, share these facts with your friends and loved ones. They’ll likely be surprised by many (if not all) of them, leading to a fun, interesting twist to the holiday!
