Henderson & Sheehan start for Irish against Scots

St. Patrick's Day by the Numbers

St. Patrick's Day by the Numbers. Everyone can be Irish for a day on March 17. In the U.S., St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a reason to celebrate your Irish heritage. On average, 13 million pints of Guinness are served on March 17. Chicago has a famous tradition of dyeing its river green. The tradition started in 1942, and takes 40 pounds of dye. Boston is a great place to celebrate with its annual parade. It is the most Irish city in the U.S., with 20.4% of its citizens are of Irish ancestry. 79% of celebrators plan to wear green.

This Day in History: First St. Patrick's Day Parade

This Day in History: , First St. Patrick's Day Parade. March 17, 1762. The first St. Patrick's Day parade is widely regarded as having been celebrated in New York City by Irish soldiers serving in the British army. The day honors the patron saint of Ireland, who was born to a Christian family in Britain in the 4th century. St. Patrick is credited with converting almost all of Ireland to Christianity before his death. One of the most revered legends about the saint is his explanation of the Holy Trinity using a three-leafed shamrock. Early Irish immigrants brought his feast day with them to America. According to the National Retail Association, Americans spent nearly $6 billion for St. Patrick's Day in 2018

10 Things You May Not Know About St. Patrick's Day

10 Things You May Not Know About St. Patrick's Day. 1. The shortest St. Patrick's Day parade only runs for 98 feet and takes place in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 2. Saint Patrick’s birth name was actually Maewyn Succat. He changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest. 3. Shamrocks are said to have been used by Saint Patrick as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity. 4. Corned beef doesn’t actually contain corn. It's name come from the use of salt "corns" to cure meat. 5. Saint Patrick famously wore a light shade of blue, not the traditional green that is constantly seen. 6. Green became a significant color for Ireland during its 1641 rebellion. Its importance then carried over to St. Patrick’s Day. 7. St. Patrick’s Day used to be a strictly religious and alcohol-free holiday in Ireland. 8. Saint Patrick wasn't actually Irish. He was born in Britain and kidnapped by Irish pirates at a young age. 9. In traditional Irish folk tales, female leprechauns don’t exist. 10. The U.S. has 32 million people of Irish descent, while Ireland’s total population is only 4.7 million

7 St. Patrick's Day Traditions Explained

7 , St. Patrick's Day Traditions:, Explained. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, but why are these traditions so significant?. 1. St. Patrick. Patrick was an Irish missionary who was kidnapped as a child and brought to Ireland. March 17 is believed to be the day of his death. 2. The Green River in Chicago. The Chicago River has been traditionally dyed green for over 50 years. The color green is derived from the green strip in the Irish flag. 3. Parades. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S. was in 1762. They allow people to proudly celebrate their Irish-American identity. 4. Shamrocks. Shamrocks used to be worn by the Irish in defiance of the ruling British class and to represent kinship among the native people. 5. Drinking Guinness. This Irish stout is the drink of choice on St. Patrick's Day, with about 13 million pints consumed on the holiday. 6. Leprechauns. These little green men come from 8th century Irish folklore. They were said to make shoes and wreck havoc on unsuspecting humans. 7. Corned Beef and Cabbage. This tradition was begun by poor Irish-Americans of the 19th century. Corned beef and cabbage were the affordable option