Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I know this is a blog about Myasthenia Gravis, but we’re going to take a little break, just for today, to tell you some facts about St. Patrick’s Day. Some of these, you may not have heard before.

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th each year, honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday originally started as a religious feast day but has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture.

St. Patrick was a 5th-century Christian missionary and bishop of Ireland. He is credited with converting the Irish to Christianity and is famously associated with using the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Back then, the shamrock was a clover with 3 leaves. Today, we often see the shamrock having 4 leaves, the symbol for good luck.

St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with parades, such as those held in Dublin, New York City, Chicago and Boston. Most everyone wears green and shamrocks can be seen everywhere. Traditional Irish dishes like corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread are served and many partake in the downing of a green beer or two…or three.

Since 1962, Chicago has dyed the Chicago River green on St. Patrick’s Day. Nearly every bar and tavern in the U.S. is packed with people celebrating the day. There’s usually a wee bit of overindulgence and people have been known to party in ways they often regret. In Ireland, the day is still recognized as a religious holiday, with church services honoring St. Patrick

Here’s some FUN FACTS about St. Patrick’s Day:

• Blue was originally the color associated with St. Patrick, but green became the color due to Ireland’s nickname “The Emerald Isle”.
• The first St. Patrick’s Day parade wasn’t in Ireland – it was held in New York City in 1762.
• March 17th is believed to be the date of St. Patrick’s death, not his birth.
• There are more people of Irish descent in the U.S. than in Ireland itself!

So, wear your green, put on a shamrock and enjoy yourself this St. Patrick’s Day. May the luck o’ the Irish be with you.