Every year on March 17th, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart celebrate St. Patrick's Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green.
Here are some Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day...
* Did you know that St. Patrick was born in Britain not Ireland?
* 40 pounds of green dye are used to turn the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day.
* Legend has it that Patrick stood on an Irish hillside and delivered a sermon that drove the island’s serpents into the sea. It's true...there are no snakes on the Emerald Isle.
* Knights in the Order of St. Patrick originally wore a color known as St. Patrick’s blue, not green.
* In Ireland, a type of bacon similar to ham is the customary protein on the holiday table. In the late 19th century, Irish immigrants in New York City’s Lower East Side supposedly substituted corned beef in order to save money.
* The shamrock, which was also called the “seamroy” by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring.
* The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure.
* Across the world, people drink 4.2 billion pints of green beer on St. Patrick's Day.
Happy St. Patrick's Day from The Duck!
