Fun Fact 2: Who was Saint Patrick? He was a Roman-British Christian that was captured and taken to Ireland towards the end of the 5th century. He escaped, became bishop then ordained as Patron Saint; he is also known as the "Apostle of Ireland"
Fun Fact 3: The date of Saint Patrick's birth is uncertain and historians dispute about the year of his death; some suggest the year 460 and others the year 493
Fun Fact 4: Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17 March each year. March 17 is the same date that St. Patricks died
Fun Fact 5: Saint Patrick's Day celebrates the day the arrival of Christianity in Ireland; it is a day to rejoice in the heritage and culture of Ireland and the Irish people
Fun Fact 6: Celebrations involve music, festivals, parades the wearing of green attire and shamrocks
Fun Fact 7: The first documented St. Patrick's Day in America was celebrated in Boston 1737, during that time Boston was populated by many Irish immigrants
Fun Fact 8: How is the Shamrock linked to St. Patrick? It is believed that Saint Patrick used a shamrock (a three leafed plant) to teach the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; three persons in one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Fun Fact 9: What does "the wearing of the green" mean? The term, "the wearing of the green" originates from a song of the same name which was written to express the opinions of the supporters to the Irish Rebellion in 1798. The supporters took to wearing green coloured clothing and ribbons as a sign of revolution and since then green ribbons and shamrocks have been connected with the people of Ireland and St Patrick's day
Fun Fact 10: Did you know that the colour originally associated with Saint Patrick was blue?
Fun Fact 11: A leprechaun is a type of mischievous fairy from medieval Irish folklore. Leprechauns can be described as small impish old men, dressed in green that are playful and sometimes a little naughty. Leprechaun tales tell stories of them storing pots of gold coins at the end of a rainbow!
Fun Fact 12: Traditional Irish food is often eaten on St Paddy's Day fare includes; colcannon, champ, Irish stew, mussels, soda bread, Guinness cake and Barmbrack
Fun Fact 13: Did you know that there are pictures of astronauts celebrating St. Patrick's Day in space? NASA's Irish-American astronaut Catherine Coleman was photographed in 2011 and Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was photographed in 2013 both astronauts were celebrating St. Patrick day in the International Space Station!
Fun Fact 14: Surprising Fact! St. Patrick's birth name was Maewyn Succat; he choose the name Patrick after he became a Priest
Fun Fact 15: Saint Patrick is believed to be buried in the grounds of Downpatrick Cathedral, County Down, Northern Ireland |
