Beannacht na feile Padrig oraibh

* Traditional Irish greeting on St. Patrick's Day: "Beannacht na feile Padrig oraibh," which means "May the blessings of St. Patrick be with you."
* When General George Washington's troops seized Boston from the British on March 17, 1776, the word "Boston" was used as the password and "St. Patrick" as the reply.
* St. Patrick's Day serves as a brief reprieve for many Catholics from the deprivations of Lent. It's a time when children can gobble up sweets and their parents can drink a pint at the local pub before Easter. (Happily the Atlanta Archbishop gave the ATL a dispensation - meaning Chick-fil-a for me 17 March!)
* St. Patrick was not Irish, but is believed to have been born in Wales.
* St. Patrick’s real name was not Patrick, but perhaps Maewyn Succat. He changed his name when he became a priest.
* The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737.
* St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 thanks to Edward Jones, who wrote a book on Patrick’s life marking that date as the day he died. The actual dates of his birth and death are unknown.
* The shamrock is the symbol of Ireland as legend states that St. Patrick used the plant to symbolize the Holy Trinity.
* In pagan times, the shamrock was believed to signal the presence of fairies living near where it grew.
* Leprechauns do more than guard pots of gold; they’re believed to be shoemakers for other fairies.