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St. Patrick’s Day Myths vs Facts

By: Author Elizabeth Lampman

Posted on  - Last updated:

9 Comments

I came across this infographic on St. Patrick’s Day Myths vs Facts and thought you all might enjoy it as much as I did.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world every year on March 17th by eating food like Irish Soda Bread, making merry, wearing green and drinking beer.  There is more to St. Patrick’s Day than many know, and what you think you know about it is probably wrong!  Have Shamrocks always been associated with Ireland?  Are there no snakes in Ireland thanks to St. Patrick or due to an Ice Age?  What about Leprechauns?  Why is drinking beer part of the tradition?  What about wearing green? 

Speaking of beer, did you know that on any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness, the famous Irish stout brand, are consumed around the world?  On St. Patrick’s Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints!

Originally, the colour associated with Saint Patrick was blue.  Over time the colour green began to be associated with St. Patrick’s Day until blue was completely a thing of the past.   This is most likely because Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, which is what is behind the display of shamrocks.  

Read on to learn about these St. Patrick’s Day Myths vs Facts!

St. Patrick's Day Myths vs Facts

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.
 
Here is another interesting St. Patrick’s Day fact for you.  The shortest St Patrick’s Day parade in the world takes place in Dripsey, Cork. The parade lasts just 100 yards and travels between the village’s two pubs.

Today, the U.S. tradition of St. Patrick’s Day parades and green beer drinking has invaded Ireland with full force, it’s a good way to boost spring tourism after all! 

How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

 

Kathryn63

Monday 6th of March 2017

Great graphic! Very interesting information. Maybe on March 17 this year I can wow my friends and family with my incredible knowledge ;-).

kathy downey

Monday 16th of March 2015

We have trivia night when friends are over and i used the ST. PATRICK’S DAY MYTHS VS FACTS surprisingly they got most wrong

Elizabeth Matthiesen

Thursday 5th of March 2015

A lot of interesting facts gathered together here that I didn't know. Seems strange that here everyone wears green on St Patrick's Day but in Ireland it's considered to be unlucky. :-)

kathy downey

Thursday 5th of March 2015

Thanks ,this was a very enjoyable read and made for great dinner conversation tonight

Elva Roberts

Monday 23rd of February 2015

St.Paddy's Day occurs usually in Lent and , if you have given up sweets for Lent, you are allowed to have a sweet on that day. I usually wear green since my paternal ancestors came from County Monaghan in Ireland and settled in Newton, PEI, about 1835. I am really proud of my Irish heritage. One of my grandsons travelled over most of Europe and his favorite spot was Ireland.