Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here at Community Insurance & Associates we enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and all of the fun that comes with it. Many people view this holiday as a time to drink green beer and indulge themselves in local celebrations. However, before you head out to a community river dance—make sure you know a little bit of history behind this holiday.
Here are 8 fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day:
• St. Patrick’s was originally from Britain, not Ireland. When he was 16 he was sold into slavery in Ireland until the age of 22 when he escaped.
• We celebrate St. Patrick’ Day on March 17th which is actually the day that St. Patrick died.
• St. Patrick’s Day did not become a national holiday until 1903 in Ireland.
• Along with Ireland, there are several other countries that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Countries including Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, and the United States.
• About 3 million pints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day alone.
• St. Patrick used shamrocks to represent the Christian Holy Trinity.
• Corned Beef and Cabbage is more of an American tradition than an Irish one. Irish Americans were poor for the most part and corned beef was one of the only types of meat that they could afford.
• The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1762.
Now that you know a little more about the holiday that you are celebrating—you may be able to win that trivia contest at your local pub or tavern. If you are Irish or not, you can still participate in the fun surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. Just make sure to always have a designated driver if you plan on drinking and review these safety tips before you head out to a St. Patrick’s Day party.