5 quick facts and myths about Saint Patrick’s Day

Today, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart celebrate St. Patrick’s Day across the world. Here are some interesting facts that will shed some light on this much-celebrated patron saint.

• One common myth about St. Patrick is that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland…

• Irish immigrants who went to the USA, turned this minor religious holiday into a partying day as they celebrated their Irish roots and customs

• Green is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day, mainly because of its connections to Ireland in springtime, and the Irish flag

• Shamrocks (those three leaf clovers) are another green symbol of Ireland, and was said to be used by Saint Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) while trying to convert people to Christianity

• More than 13 million pints of Guiness are consumed around the globe on St. Patrick’s Day