St. Patrick's Day: Bet You Didn't Know

Synopsis

Millions of people around the world wear their best green attire every March 17th to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. However, many are unaware that Saint Patrick was not Irish; he was born in Brittany, part of the Roman Empire, around the fifth century. At sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and spent six years in captivity, during which he converted to Christianity. After his release, he returned to Ireland as a missionary. Patrick died on March 17, 461, and was largely forgotten until myths grew around him, including the famous tale of him driving snakes from Ireland, despite the fact that Ireland never had any snakes. The tradition of wearing shamrocks on March 17 began in 18th century Ireland to signify Irish Christian pride, evolving into the modern custom of wearing green. Interestingly, the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day parades originated in America, particularly after the Great Potato Famine in the 1840s, with the first recorded parade in New York dating back to 1762.