St. Patrick's Day

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Saint Patrick's Day Facts & Quotes

• St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity to non-Christians. The leaves stood for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  
• Approximately 5.5 million pints of Irish Guinness stout are consumed on an average day. On St. Patrick's Day, nearly 13 million are consumed.
• Wearing the shamrock, a three-leaf clover is a St. Patrick's Day tradition. The official three-leaf clover is known scientifically as Trifolium dubium however clovers can also have more leaves. Four-leaf clovers are said to be lucky, however the odds of finding one are about 1 to 10,000.
• The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. - St. Patrick
• Sláinte! - used when clinking glasses with friends at a bar (equivalent of Cheers or Health!)

Saint Patrick's Day Top Events and Things to Do

• Wear green! In some parts of the world, the custom is to pinch people who aren't wearing the color of shamrocks.
• Attend a St. Patrick's Day parade. Major cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Dallas, and Boston host marching bands and floats.
• The heart of any Irish neighborhood is its local pub. Share a couple of green Guinness beers with friends at a local Irish pub or try Magner's (Bulmer's) apple cider as an alternative.
• Why not try the custom of drowning the shamrock? A shamrock is placed in a cup and filled with whiskey, cider, or beer. One makes a toast and must chug the drink. It is usually done at the end of celebrations.
• Enjoy a traditional Irish meal. A traditional Irish St. Patrick's Day meal would include roasted leg of lamb, carrots, parsnips, peas and lots of potatoes!

Saint Patrick's Day References and Related Sites