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St. Patrick's Day -

St. Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. It's celebrated on March 17.

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Missionary -

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish people.

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St. Maewyn’s Day - According to Irish folklore, the day could have been named St. Maewyn’s Day, as it was his given name (later changed to Patricius).

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Englishman - St. Patrick himself was English.

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Tragic past - He was kidnapped at the age of 16.

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Tragic past - St. Patrick was taken to Ireland as a slave, where he would remain for 10 years before escaping back to England.

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Folklore - It's a well-known myth that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland.

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Snakes - Many believe that the snakes were actually the pagans and druidic priests, who used a serpent symbol.

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Blue was the official color -

St. Patrick was originally associated with blue, not green. Most of Ireland, including its flag, was represented by blue.

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Worldwide - What began as a religious feast day in the 17th century has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture.

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Traditions - One tradition is to pinch anyone who is not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day.

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Feast -

Corned beef and cabbage are traditional foods eaten on this holiday in the US. However, in Ireland you will most likely find shepherd's pie or Irish stew on the table.

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Shamrocks - The shamrock is heavily associated with St. Patrick's Day. It also represents the Holy Trinity.

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Shamrocks - It’s a common mistake to confuse a four-leaf clover and a shamrock.

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National symbol - Despite the common use of the shamrock, the harp is actually Ireland's national symbol.

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Leprechauns - Leprechauns are commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day.

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Leprechauns - Leprechauns are unfriendly fairies that live in the forest.

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Leprechauns - If you manage to catch one, the leprechaun will be forced to tell you where he has hidden his pots of gold!

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Chicago River - The Chicago River is dyed green every year in celebration of the holiday.

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Irish Americans - There are more people with Irish ancestry in the United States than in Ireland.

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St. Patrick's Day is American - PBS reports that the first recorded St. Patrick's Day celebration was in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1600. The Charitable Irish Society of Boston organized the first observance of St. Patrick's Day on the American east coast in 1737.

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Green beer - Green beer has become a common sight on St. Patrick's Day.

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Beer - Millions of pints of beer are consumed around the world on St. Patrick’s Day.

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Ireland - St. Patrick's Day wasn't celebrated in Ireland until 1903.

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Ireland - The first parade in Dublin was held in 1931.

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Pubs - Pubs in Ireland used to close on St. Patrick's Day because it was a religious holiday.

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Open for business - From 1970 onwards, Irish law permitted pubs to be open on St. Patrick's Day.

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Dublin festival -

Approximately one million people take part in Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Festival each year.

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New York parade -

The New York St. Patrick's Day annual parade lasts five to six hours, consists of over 100 bands, and attracts roughly two million spectators.

See also: The UK and Ireland's most fascinating Neolithic sites

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