Every year on March 17, the Irish (and those fond of all that’s green) celebrate the life of Ireland’s patron saint. St. Patrick’s Day, which began as a religious feast day, has become an international celebration of Irish culture. In fact, Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1995.
While you may not find a pot of gold during the festivities, you could be celebrating by finding your own stash of green and saving money on your car insurance.
Here are some interesting facts you can impress your friends with at the local pub about St. Patrick’s Day:
- St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in two Canadian provinces – Labrador and Newfoundland.
- St. Patrick wore blue robes; according to Irish legends, green was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.
- St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes symbolize the pagans that he converted to Christianity.
- It is believed St. Patrick died on March 17 in the year 461 AD.
- The Chicago River is dyed green, with a secret recipe, each year between 10am and 11am.
- The phrase, “Drowning The Shamrock” is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. This is thought to insure a prosperous year.
- 1737 – The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States is held in Boston.
- 1762 – World’s first official parade in New York City is held.
- 2011 – The 250th New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held.
- 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2008 US Census, almost nine times Ireland’s entire population.
- Nine of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin.
- Nineteen Presidents of the United States claim Irish heritage – including George Washington.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.Legend says that each leaf of the 4-leaf clover has special meaning:
- First – hope
- Second – faith
- Third – love
- Fourth – luck
- St. Patrick wasn’t Irish and he wasn’t born in Ireland. Patrick’s parents were Roman citizens living in modern-day England.
- At the age of 16, St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders who sold him as a slave. At the age of 22, he escaped.
- Ireland became an independent country in 1921 and adopted the harp as the national symbol.
- St. Patrick’s was a dry holiday in Ireland until 1970. From 1903 to 1970, St. Patrick’s Day was a religious observance for the entire country – all pubs were closed for the day.
- Your odds of finding a four-leaf clover are about 1 in 10,000.
You don’t need to find a 4 leaf clover to get lucky by finding your own stash of green with an affordable car insurance quote if you know where to look.
How are you planning to celebrate St. Patricks’ day? Feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the section below.