Metro Creative Service
Metro Creative Service
Every March individuals tap into their inner Irish and celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Myth and fact have melded over the years with respect to St. Patrick, and many people aren’t quite sure what to believe about this beloved holiday.
Test your St. Patrick’s Day knowledge with the quiz below.
1. St. Patrick was Irish.
Blarney: St. Patrick was born in what today would be called Britain. He was kidnapped by Irish brigands and brought to Ireland at age 16.
2. Patrick wasn’t the first Christian missionary to visit Ireland.
Fact: There were other missionaries to visit the Emerald Isle, but none were as successful as Patrick.
3. St. Patrick drove snakes into the Irish Sea.
Blarney: Snakes have never been native to Ireland, and Patrick did not drive any off the land. This may have been a metaphor for druidic religions, which began to disappear as Christianity spread on the island.
4. The Christian concept of the Trinity being taught with a shamrock cannot be accurately credited to St. Patrick.
Fact: There is no mention of using a three-leaf shamrock to teach the concept of the trinity in Patrick’s writings.
5. Green was always a lucky color with the Irish.
Blarney: Irish folklore states that green was the favorite color of the Good People (Irish fairies). The fairies would steal people, especially children, who wore too much green. Hence the color was long thought to be unlucky.
6. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an Irish tradition.
Blarney: Actually, it’s an American tradition. The Irish used to commemorate St. Patrick in a solemn religious remembrance.
The original St. Patrick’s Day Parade may be traced to a party in New York City.