St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts from Orthopedic Associates

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, and of course, green beer are all in season as the luck of the Irish sweeps across St. Louis. There are all sorts of legends and interesting tidbits about St. Patrick that may surprise you.

Here are a few fun facts about St. Patrick and one of St. Louis’ favorite holidays:

• St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, but did you know he wasn’t even Irish? He was English! St. Patrick was born around A.D. 387 in either Scotland or Wales (historians argue over which country is the right birth location). Whether it was Scotland or Wales, both countries were then a part of the Roman Empire.
• St. Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates at age 16. He was brought back to Ireland and sold into slavery. He spent the next six years as a shepherd in the hill country of Ireland. He escaped at age 22 and made his way back to England. He traveled to France where he lived in a monastery and studied to be a priest for the next twelve years.
• St. Patrick became the first bishop of Armagh, primate of Ireland. He baptized thousands of converts and started many monasteries across Ireland.
• So, why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th? We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th to honor the day St. Patrick died in A.D. 461.
• Did St. Patrick drive all the snakes or toads out of Ireland? No, there’s no evidence to suggest that St. Patrick did anything like that. In fact, there is little to no evidence that snakes have ever existed in Ireland due to the climate.
• St. Patrick’s vestments were actually blue in color, not green. Many of the historic paintings and depictions of St. Patrick show him in blue clothing.
• St. Patrick’s mission involved helping the poor, marginalized, outcast, and ostracized find justice and freedom from tyranny. We could all make the world a better place by showing love the way St. Patrick did to others.

Now you know more than ever about this great holiday we celebrate. We also know that it’s easy to enjoy St. Patty’s Day a bit too much. If you sprain an ankle dancing or twist your wrist while holding a Shamrock Lager, your first call is to Orthopedic Associates. Click here to schedule your next appointment.