Who Is St. Patrick And Why The Color Green

You had me at the color green. Green like the beautiful leaves on a tree on a very nice spring day. Green like the luscious land all over the Emerald Isle. All the forty-nine shades of green and more that the human eye can see are the most important colors of St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated on the 17th of March, in honor of Saint Patrick who is the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is not Irish; in fact, he was born in Roman Britain, but his life and mission became an important role in Irish culture.

The Legend of St. Patrick and The Snakes

Popular Irish folklore has it that St. Patrick got rid of all the slithering snakes all over the green hills of Ireland forever. Legend says he waved his staff and banished them into the sea. Interestingly, research suggests snakes never actually lived in Ireland, leading many to believe the "snakes" were symbols of paganism that Patrick replaced with Christianity.

The Legend of St. Patrick and The Shamrock

The Shamrock is the iconic symbol of Ireland. According to legend, when Saint Patrick converted the Irish to Christianity, he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. Today, this three-leaf clover is believed to be an essential lucky charm.

The Legend of St. Patrick and The Color Green

On Saint Patrick’s Day, green is everywhere. But why?

• Green wasn’t the first choice; the original color associated with the saint was blue.
• The color green is associated with political reasons dating back to the 1641 Great Irish Rebellion.
• Lore says wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, protecting you from their pinches!

Irish Greetings

• To one person: Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!
• To a group: Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!
• General Blessing: Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig dhuit!