St. Patrick's Day is named after Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. It is a worldwide holiday that celebrates Ireland's culture and history. The holiday is observed on March 17 to commemorate the anniversary of Saint Patrick's death in the fifth century. Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck. (However, there is a 1 in 10,000 chance of finding a clover with four leaves).
The shamrock is the traditional holiday symbol because St. Patrick used it to explain the connection between the father, the son, and the holy spirit in the Christian religion.
The very first St. Patrick's Day Parade was in Boston in 1737.
The association of St. Patrick's Day and leprechaun's is purely an American creation. The 1959 Disney movie, "Darby O'Gill & the Little People" introduced the leprechaun we are so familiar with.
The phrase "Drowing the Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.
Chicago dyes its river green. It began in 1962 when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges; they realized the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. Forty pounds of vegetable dye is used to dye the river, lasting several hours.
May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night. -Irish Blessing
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