St. Patrick: Not So Irish?

St. Patrick's Day, which is often referred to as "Patty's Day" or "Paddy's Day," is a popular holiday.

Though the holiday honors the life of the patron saint of Ireland and has become a way for people from all backgrounds to celebrate Irish culture, celebrants may be surprised to learn that St. Patrick was not really named "Patrick" and he also was not Irish.

Historians are uncertain about the actual date of St. Patrick's birth, but many believe he was born in Roman Britain in the 5th Century. Other accounts trace St. Patrick's birth to present-day Scotland or Wales. But no account suggests that St. Patrick was born in Ireland.

St. Patrick did set foot on Irish soil, and spent years living in the land now known as the Emerald Isle after he was captured by a group of Irish pirates, taken to Ireland and ultimately enslaved.

St. Patrick was not only not Irish, he also was not named "Patrick." Historians believe Ireland's patron saint was born "Maewyn Succat," but changed his name to "Patricius" upon becoming a priest after he escaped from slavery.

Celebrants of St. Patrick's Day also may be surprised to learn that St. Patrick was never formally canonized, as he lived prior to the adoption of the laws governing canonization in the Catholic Church.

That said, St. Patrick is still venerated as a saint in various Christian churches, including the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In fact, Many St. Patrick's Day traditions are not from Ireland. Many seemingly Irish traditions likely began elsewhere.

First parade

It would be accurate to assume that various elements associated with St. Patrick's Day began where St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, once resided, including the first St. Patrick's Day parade. However, some of the first parades held in St. Patrick's honor took place in two North American cities, New York and Boston, that had high numbers of Irish immigrants. But historians say the first ever St. Patrick's Day parade was actually held in St. Augustine, Florida in 1601, a year after gunfire blasts were used to honor the saint. The parade may have been at the request of an Irish priest living there at the time.

Corned beef and cabbage

What would St. Patrick's Day be without an authentic meal of corned beef and cabbage? This dish is not so authentic after all, and actually is an American innovation. Ham and cabbage was widely eaten in Ireland, but corned beef was a cheaper alternative found in America by immigrants. Therefore, corned beef became a staple of poor Irish immigrants living in lower Manhattan. The salted meat was boiled three times to remove some of the brine and make it palatable.

Green beer

Green beer is not an Irish custom, but an American one. The most common beer consumed in Ireland is Guinness, which is dark brown to black in color, making green dye useless in Irish pubs since it would be largely invisible in the stout.

Golf tournaments

One would not associate golf with St. Patrick's Day unless they reside in Nome, Alaska. Golf is a popular Irish pastime, and each year the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament takes place right around St. Patrick's Day. Bright green golf balls are used, and breaks are factored in between holes to warm up at local bars.

Wearing green

According to The Christian Science Monitor, individuals in the United States started wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the early 1700s. They believed it "made one invisible to leprechauns." The official color for the holiday used to be a sky blue known as "St. Patrick's Day Blue," established during the reign of King George III.

In addition to these traditions, specialty items, such as coffees and shakes, also are very popular. However, most of these do not have origins on the Emerald Isle, either. Yet, no matter where traditions began, there's no denying St. Patrick's Day has long inspired celebration.