7 Stunning Myths About St. Patrick’s Day

On St. Patrick’s Day, the world comes together to embrace the Irish culture as their own. However, most of the ‘traditions’ we celebrate are not actually Irish at all.

Did you know that the world consumes 13 million pints of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day? Or how about that it takes 25 lbs of dye to turn the Chicago River green?

Those facts are actually true! Now here are 7 Stunning Myths about St. Patrick’s Day that will blow your mind:

1. St. Patrick was not Irish. BOOM goes the dynamite! St. Patrick was actually born to a wealthy family in England, Scotland, or Wales. Historical interpretations on his birthplace vary, but it was certainly NOT in Ireland. St. Patrick finally set foot on ‘The Emerald Isle’ when he was 16 years old.

2. Patrick is not his real name. Patrick’s real name is Maewyn Succat. Young Maewyn took on the name Patrick after he started his career as a missionary converting the Irish to Christianity. Saint Maewyn’s Day, anyone?

3. Patrick deliberately chose to live in Ireland. This is actually true… the 2nd time St. Patrick lived in Ireland. The 1st time St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and forced to tend sheep in Ireland’s freezing mountains. After 6 years as a slave, St. Patrick escaped back to his family and started studying Christianity. He would finally return to Ireland 15 years later.

4. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was in America (not Ireland). Irish soldiers serving the British army wanted to honor their heritage and hosted the first parade in Boston on March 17, 1737. New York City soon followed suite. In comparison, Ireland did not have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade until 1903.

5. GREEN EVERYTHING on St. Patrick’s Day. So, St. Patrick traditionally wore blue. The specific hue he wore was even called ‘St. Patrick’s Blue’. WHAT? So, why do we drink green beer, dye rivers green and deck ourselves out in green everything on St. Patrick’s Day? The leprechauns, of course!

In Irish folklore, leprechauns (little mischievous, bearded men) would pinch anyone not wearing green. This legend soon turned into people pinching their friends who were anti-green…. So now, we all wear green because no one likes getting pinched!

6. St. Patrick drove the Snakes out of Ireland. This one always seemed a little far-fetched. Can you imagine St. Patrick with his staff? “Shoo, snakes, shoo”. In fact, there is no evidence that snakes ever existed in Ireland as the temperature is too cold for these reptiles. Some historians make the argument that this legend is a biblical metaphor. In the bible, serpents are associated with evil and St. Patrick was in Ireland to drive out the evil through his Christian ministry.

7. Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish meal. False. The Irish love pig… bacon, sausage, etc and would serve that with cabbage. When the Irish started immigrating to America, corned beef was cheap and readily available so that is what they ate. Bars in New York City even served ‘free corned beef lunch’ for Irish immigrants as long as they bought a couple pints to go wash it down. However, corned beef and cabbage is not considered a traditional meal in Ireland.

I know, I know. When I first started writing this, I was a little upset too. Then, I started thinking about the point of traditions…

Traditions are meant to bring families, friends, and strangers together to spend time with each other. Traditions are meant describe certain ideas, honor heroes, and create memories. Traditions are meant to be celebrations!!!

WHO CARES if some of the historical facts about my favorite holiday aren’t correct as long as it provides another reason to spend time with the people I love.

So go eat corned beef and drink green beer! Go spend time and celebrate with your friends and family! I think even St. Patrick (Maewyn) could get on board for that. Sláinte!

Want to read my post on Dublin and the Guinness Factory? CLICK HERE