5 Fun Facts about St. Patrick’s Day

With St. Patrick’s Day just a few short weeks away, we thought it would be fun to share some lesser-known facts about the holiday! We didn’t know some of these facts — did you?

1. We Should Really Wear Blue
   Saint Patrick’s color was “Saint Patrick’s blue,” which is a light shade of blue. The color green only became associated with the big day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.
2. It Used to be a Dry Holiday
   For most of the 20th century, Saint Patrick’s Day was strictly a religious holiday in Ireland, which meant that the nation’s pubs were closed for business on March 17. Then in 1970, the day was converted to a national holiday, and the stout resumed flowing.
3. There’s a Reason for the Shamrocks
   According to Irish legend, the Saint Patrick used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.
4. There’s No Corn in that Beef
   Corned beef and cabbage, a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple, doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, it’s a nod to the large grains of salt that were historically used to cure meats, which were also known as “corns.”
5. The World Runs Up Quite a Bar Tab
   All of the Saint Patrick’s Day revelry around the globe is great news for brewers. A 2012 estimate pegged the total amount spent on beer for Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations at $245 million!

Want to learn more? For the complete list of “15 Delightful Facts About St. Patrick’s Day,” please read on at Mental Floss’ website.