Did you know...

To go along with my previous article about Valentine’s Day facts, I have decided to do another one…but about St. Patrick’s Day! The only thing that I really know about St. Patrick’s Day is that you must wear green to avoid being pinched. So, obviously, I don’t know a lot, and I figured I wasn’t the only one. If you want to learn some random facts about his holiday, sit back and enjoy my article! 

1. The original color of St. Patrick’s Day was blue! This fact shocked me. I always associated this day with green, but it actually didn’t start that way. Green didn’t become the color associated with St. Patrick’s until the shamrock became Ireland’s national symbol. You can read more about this fact by clicking on this link: Blue St. Patrick's Day.

   
   

2. St. Patrick wasn’t Irish! While St. Patrick’s Day was named after St. Patrick and is associated with Ireland, the man the holiday was named after wasn’t even Irish! He was actually born in Great Britain, but was kidnapped by Irish raiders and managed to escape several years later. He then became a priest (later earning the title of “Saint”) and returned to Ireland as a missionary. St. Patrick isn't Irish!

   
   

3. Green makes you invisible! We know that the shamrock is the national symbol for Ireland, and that they are known for their green, rolling hills. But could there be another reason? I won’t keep you in suspense; the answer is yes. According to Irish folklore, wearing green will make you invisible to leprechauns. If you’re invisible to the leprechauns, then the mischievous creatures can’t pinch you. That’s where the tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day came from! Don’t just take my word for it; you can read about it in this article: Green makes you invisible.

   
   

4. Leprechauns are genies! It is said that if you can catch a Leprechaun and look it in its eyes, it will tell you where its gold is hidden and will offer you three wishes for its escape! So, if you ever find a true leprechaun in the hills of Ireland, ask it for three wishes! Irish Genies 

   
   

5. The famous green river… If you want to really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but can’t afford to travel to Ireland (I’m with you on that one), you can take a drive to Chicago (or watch on your TV). Every St. Patrick's Day, the Chicago River is dyed green! Along with the Green River, they have a parade, parties, small events, and you can even take a boat out on the Green River. I highly recommend asking your parents to go, and if they say no, you can watch videos online! The Green River