5 Facts That Prove We’re Doing St. Patrick’s Day All Wrong

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hopefully, your Irish eyes are a smilin. However, we might be doing it all wrong. Except for Patty in the Parc, that's always right on the money.

These are just a few mind-blowing facts about St. Patrick's Day and you can see more over at mentalfloss.com.

The Color Blue Was Originally The Color Associated With St. Patrick's Dat

Saint Patrick's color was actually “Saint Patrick’s Blue,” a light shade of blue. The color green only became associated with St. Patrick's Day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.

Why Are Shamrocks Associated With Ireland?

St. Patrick used Shamrocks as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he first began introducing Christianity to Ireland.

Was Saint Patrick Was British?

Say what? St. Patrick wasn’t Irish?

He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late fourth century. He is however credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

From britannica.com -

"St. Patrick was born in Britain to a Romanized family. At age 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and carried into slavery in Ireland. After six years in servitude, he had a dream of his escape and fled his master."

St. Patrick's Name Wasn't Patrick

St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat, but he changed his name to Patricius after becoming a priest.

Patricius derives from the Latin term for "father figure".

St. Patrick Most Likely Never Drove Snakes Out Of Ireland

Although Saint Patrick gets credit for driving all the snakes out of Ireland, it probably didn't happen.

Modern scientists say that the job might not have been too hard. According to fossil records, Ireland has never been home to any snakes. Because of the Ice Age, Ireland was too cold for snakes, and the surrounding seas have kept snakes at bay ever since.