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Fun Facts For St. Patrick’s Day

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March 16, 2012

Have you ever thought to yourself that you wish you knew the history behind St. Patrick’s Day? Or ever wondered if there is more to the day than wearing green? Well read up and enjoy sharing your St. Patty’s Day knowledge with friends and family – maybe even stumping a few along the way!

Did you know…

  • For starters, the real St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish. He was born in Britain.
  • The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals – and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.
  • The word “Lephrechaun” has many origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”
  • There are quite a few American towns that have “Irish” names. You could pay a visit to: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
  • According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest number of leaves found on a clover is 14. There is also said to be nearly 10,000 regular or 3 leaf clovers for every 4 leaf clover…have you ever found one? Lucky you.
  • As legend would have it, each one of the leaves on the 4 leaf clover has a meaning. The first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love, and the fourth for luck.
  • Pinching someone who isn’t wearing green is an entirely American tradition that probably started in the early 1700s. St. Patrick’s revelers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns.
  • The Chicago River has been turned green for St. Patrick’s Day for the past 40+ years as part of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration.
  • Today, St. Patrick’s Day is probably the most widely celebrated saints day in the world.

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