News 4. 3. 2015
Top ten weird and wonderful facts about St. Patrick’s Day and the patron saint
3. 100 lbs. of green dye was poured into the Chicago River in honor of St. Patrick’s Day
In 1961, business manager of Chicago’s Journeymen Plumbers Local Union, Stephen Bailey, received permission to turn the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day.
Due to uncertainties about the amount of dye it would take to turn the river green, a massive 100 lbs of vegetable dye was used in comparison to the 25 lbs used today.
The Chicago River stayed green for a full week.
4. Saint Patrick banished the Snakes from Ireland
… and not a snake in sight. Patrick is said to have banished the snakes from Ireland but in fact, Ireland never had any snakes as the weather was too miserable for the cold-blooded reptiles.
The banished snakes were thought to be symbolic of the pagan druid priests with whom Patrick might have had a few issues to iron out.
5. George Washington ordered that “St. Patrick” be the response to the password “Boston” on Evacuation Day
On Evacuation Day, March 17, 1776, the General Orders issued by Washington were that those wishing to pass through Continental Army lines should give the password “Boston,” to which the reply should be “St. Patrick.”
6. The resting place of Saint Patrick
Though never fully proven, Down Cathedral in the town of Downpatrick, Co Down, is thought to contain St. Patrick’s remains and, according to legend, he lies beside Saints Columcille and Brigit.
Apparently he’s missing a few things like a jaw and a tooth, but these can be seen in Dublin Museum.
7. Saint Patrick’s Relics
A few of the Saint’s relics can still be viewed in Ireland today: St. Patrick’s Bell and shrines of the Saint’s jaw and tooth can be viewed in Dublin in the National Museum, while Patrick’s copy of the four gospels is held at the The Royal Irish Academy.
Saint Patrick’s Crozier, with which he banished the imaginary snakes, was venerated for centuries in Dublin’s Christ Church only to be publicly burned in 1538 under the orders of the archbishop, George Browne.
Sounds like George had a few issues too.
8. Drink, drink, and yet more drink!
The global corporate-relations director of Guinness says 5.5 million pints of Guinness are sold on any given day, but this figure rises to an astounding 13 million on St. Patrick’s Day.
IBISWorld also reports that Saint Patrick’s Day 2012 brought in $245 million in beer sales.
Who’s up for making March 18 into International Hangover Day?
9. The Royal Dublin Dog Show was the place to be on St. Patrick’s Day
Due to strict laws on the curtailment of sales of alcohol on Holy Days in Ireland, from 1927 to 1961, the only place a thirsty Irish person could legally get a drink on Paddy’s day was at The Royal Dublin Dog Show.
One TD was reported to complain that it was a grand occasion “except for all the dogs.”
At the time, the church and state were worried that the Irish would drink too much on the day.
Turns out they were right. Oh well.
10. And after all that, he’s not even Irish!
Saint Patrick was actually born in Roman Britain at the end of the 4th century AD and taken to Ireland by slavers when he was a teenager.
The exact place of his birth is debatable as some say Scotland and some say Wales but, either way, he’s Irish now.
Sources: Ripley’s and Rev Patrick Comerford
Amanda Driscoll @irishcentral
Václav Bernard
