There are many tall tales around St Patrick’s Day and the man himself, but which ones are real and which are busted.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Myth#1: St Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland
Myth: Busted
It’s a great tale, that of a veritable pied-piper of snakes. Alas, however, there’s no evidence it is true. Experts agree not only did he not drive the snakes out, but that there have never been any snakes on the island. In fact nobody has ever found even a fossil of a snake in Ireland.
Myth #2: St Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was 16 and sold into slavery
Myth: Real
Patrick spent seven years in chilly, mountainous countryside of Ireland tending sheep which he hated. At the age of 22 he escaped slavery and studied Christian religion in France. He returned to Ireland in his 30’s.
Myth#3: St Patrick bought Christianity to Ireland
Myth: Busted
No he didn’t. In fact it was a bishop known as Palladius, before St Paddy even got there, that introduced the Irish to Christianity.
Myth#4: St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the people
Myth: Busted
“This leaf is the father, this leaf is the son and this”…..is a huge lie according to most historians who say that while it makes for a good story there’s no evidence to suggest it really happened. The legend is unverifiable, since Patrick doesn’t mention it in his writings.
Myth#5: St Patrick was an Irishman
Myth: Busted
Now this has to be true right? He’s Ireland’s patron saint after all. Actually it is thought St Pat was born into a wealthy family in Britain around 390 AD (when it was still part of the Roman Empire). At the very least, St. Patrick’s parents were Roman citizens living in the British Isles. Therefore, Patrick himself was a Roman citizen even though he was born somewhere in what is now Great Britain. Yikes.
Myth #6: St Patrick’s Day celebrations really started in Canada and the USA
Myth: Real
Historians generally agree Patrick’s Day traditions evolved in Canada and the USA when Irish immigrants came after the Irish potato famine of the 1840s. In Ireland the day had been a small religious holiday, sans the Guinness, as it usually fell during Lent when bars were made to close. In fact the first St Patrick’s day parade took place in the United States.
Myth#7: Green is St Patrick’s colour
Myth: Busted
Historically green is not associated with St Patrick’s Day. The knights in the Order of St Patrick wore a colour called St Patrick’s blue. While green is seen as the colour of the emerald isle today, it has nought to do with St Patrick. This blue was also the colour of the old Irish flag.
Myth#8: The amount of Guinness consumed worldwide more than doubles on St Patrick’s Day compared to any other day of the year
Myth: Real
It is indeed a grand day for the Guinness brand. On St Patrick’s Day it is estimated that consumption of the black stuff rises from 5.5 million pints to 13 million pints. More than double.
And just because…..some Guinness nicknames: The black stuff, Irish Champagne, pint of plain, diesel, Irish mother’s milk, the black nectar, bunkers, a scoop and my personal favourite, The blonde in the black dress.
