St Patricks Day Fun Facts For Kids
St. Patrick’s Day is a fun and festive holiday celebrated around the world, especially in Ireland and the United States. Although it is known for its green decorations, shamrocks, leprechauns, and parades, there’s much more to this holiday than meets the eye. In fact, there are lots of fascinating St. Patrick’s Day fun facts that kids may not know about. Here are some of them:
1. St. Patrick’s Day is named after Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
2. Saint Patrick’s real name was Maewyn Succat, and he wasn’t even Irish. He was actually born in Britain and brought to Ireland as a slave when he was a teenager.
3. St. Patrick’s Day was originally a religious holiday honoring Saint Patrick, but it gradually became a secular celebration of Irish culture and heritage.
4. The shamrock, a symbol of Ireland, is the national plant of the country. It is said that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.
5. Leprechauns, those mischievous little Irish fairies, are said to be shoemakers who hide their gold in a pot at the end of a rainbow. If you catch a leprechaun, he might grant you three wishes in exchange for his freedom.
6. Corned beef and cabbage, a popular St. Patrick’s Day meal in the United States, is actually an Americanized version of the traditional Irish dish of bacon and cabbage.
7. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1762 by Irish soldiers in the British army.
8. The Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick’s Day every year. The tradition started in 1962 when a group of plumbers used vegetable dye to turn the river green.
9. The St. Patrick’s Day colors are green, white, and orange. Green represents the Irish countryside, white stands for peace, and orange represents Irish Protestants.
10. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival in the world, including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
In conclusion, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday full of history, culture, and fun. By learning some interesting St. Patrick’s Day fun facts, kids can gain a deeper appreciation for this special day and all that it represents. They might even start a new tradition of their own!