Also known as the Feast of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. At least in the US, we celebrate it with green beer, wearing green, and dressing up as St. Patrick or leprechauns -- or what we think a leprechaun looks like.
Funny thing, though: St. Patrick wasn't Irish! He was born in Scotland or Wales in 385 AD. Here are a few more facts about St. Patrick you may not have known:
- As a teenager, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. His job was sheep herder for many years until he escaped to a monastery in England. It was there he became a devout Christian, hence the title "saint" (though he was never officially canonized as a saint).
- Even though folks in the US wear green to celebrate the day, St. Patrick apparently wore blue. At least, according to all the surviving artwork that shows him wearing blue robes (but I'm wearing green today anyway, hoping to not get pinched as is our custom!)
- A popular myth about St. Patty is that while he was in Ireland, he drove out all the snakes. Hmm, Ireland is an island so I'm not sure where they would've gone... but scientists have determined that, since Ireland has always been an incredibly cold country, it's highly likely there were never any snakes to begin with and no snake fossils have ever been found.
There are more fun facts at Facts about St. Patrick.
So do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and if so, how? And if you don't, is there another fun holiday like it that you celebrate? What traditions or superstitions do you follow?
For those who do, Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!
