Today is St. Patrick’s Day.

According to recent census data, there are 39.6 million Americans who claim Irish heritage. That number is over seven times the entire population of Ireland (6.3 million)! So no wonder so many Americans like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Here is a little bit of trivia about St. Patrick’s Day.

  • St. Patrick was not Irish by birth. He was born in Britain in the fifth century.
  • St. Patrick’s Day didn’t become a national holiday in Ireland until 1903.
  • There are nine cities called Dublin in the United States.
  • The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in New York City in 1762.
  • The shamrock may have been used by St. Patrick to explain the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

So, to all our Irish friends, family, and colleagues, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

And, if you want to learn how to say that in Gaelic, it’s “Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit.” The video will teach you how to say that like a true son or daughter of Ireland.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!