St Paddy’s Day Fast Facts

We all know St. Patrick’s Day is the time when the planet turns green, drinks Guinness and gallops around in three legged races looking for four leaf clovers. But this blog post is about the history and quirky traditions the luck of the Irish has given us, in abundance.

Why does this famous day exist? It’s a worldwide celebration of St Patrick, one of the country’s patron saints. He ministered Christianity during the fifth century, within Ireland.

This tradition of celebration (originally with a Roman Catholic feast day – now celebrated by liquid lunches and dinners) started on March 17^th, the year 461.

Why is everyone green on St Paddy’s Day? It’s simply as a camouflage disguise to ensure leprechauns (tiny fairy creatures) don’t pinch you. So if you don’t wear green on the 17^th March, anyone has the ultimate right (or non right) to pinch you, with themselves taking the responsibility of acting on behalf of these fairies role. Also remember, pinching hurts and causes bruises so maybe just pretend pinch the air instead. Our words of warning to all trigger happy pinchers reading this!

What on earth do leprechauns look like? Even though we call them fairies, they’re actually an Irish folklore, described as little bearded men, with hats and coats that are incredibly mischievous. They love living in solitary, counting and guarding hidden pots of gold at the end of rainbows. They’re also renowned for mending shoes. Maybe they inspired Daniel Day Lewis to take up cobbling between acting, way back when.

How green is Ireland? The country was originally associated as blue yet over the centuries, it morphed into green. Hence the country’s nickname ‘Emerald Isle,’ the green Irish flag and the four leaf lucky clovers that St. Patrick expressed through his teachings about the Catholic religion.

So this March 17^th, when you’re out and about with friends & family, enjoying all the amazing wonders of Ireland and the great St. Patrick, remember: no pinching, wear green, maybe consider cobbling as a new career and hunt for that gold at the end of the rainbow.

Once you’ve had your Guinness dinner (a meal in itself, full of incredible nutrients), hop on a ferry and within 10 minutes from the Opera House, you’ll be back at Cremorne Point. Aptly, our Cremorne Point Manor is in a stunning, residential setting and full of greenery. With our affordable rates, greatly lower than downtown hotel prices, you’ll now see why our guests know the grass is greener in our neck of the city.