Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Origins of St. Patrick’s Day and today's celebrations

Fun facts about St. Patrick's Day

• Despite being the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in Great Britain.
• The colour green did not become associated with St. Patrick’s Day until the 18th century.
• St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• It is estimated that more than 30 million Americans have Irish ancestry.
• Saint Patrick is said to have used a shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity during his teachings.
• Foods associated with St. Patrick’s Day include corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.
• Although the holiday is associated with Ireland, the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in New York.
• Pubs in Ireland were actually closed on St. Patrick’s Day until the 1970s!

St. Patrick’s Day Vocabulary

Whether you are out and about on St. Patrick’s Day, or simply learning about the holiday in preparation, you are likely to encounter some unfamiliar words along the way. In order to help you out, we have compiled a quick St. Patrick’s Day vocabulary guide, featuring some of the most common words associated with the celebration.

Shamrock – three-leaf clover, which is used as a symbol of Ireland.

Emerald Isle – nickname for Ireland, coined by the poet William Drennan.

Leprechaun – small mythical creature with magical powers, associated with Ireland.

Fiddle – another name for a violin, featured heavily in traditional Irish music.

Four-leaf Clover – a four-leaf variant of the clover, often viewed as a good luck charm.

St. Paddy’s Day – an informal name for St. Patrick’s Day.

Irish Tricolour – name given to the national flag of Ireland.

Pot of Gold – an imaginary reward, associated with leprechauns and said to be found at the end of a rainbow.

Guinness – a brand of Irish dry stout, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in Ireland.

Shillelagh – a weapon, similar to a club, featured heavily in Irish folklore.