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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.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 00:56Published
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
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:00Published
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
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:22Published
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
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:34Published
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![10 Things You May Not Know About St. Patrick's Day [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240312/1368450658-10-Things-You-May-Not-Know-About-St.jpg)
![7 St. Patrick's Day Traditions Explained [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240304/1367680594-St-Patrick-Day-Traditions-Explained.jpg)
