St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most beloved traditions in America. And it’s only getting more popular. In fact, according to a recent report from the National Retail Federation, 54 percent of Americans plan to celebrate the day, and expect to spend $43 each while doing it. Are you ready for some surprising St. Patrick’s Day facts?
St. Patrick’s Day Facts
1. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade wasn’t in Ireland…it was in America.
2. According to the fossil records, there were never any snakes in Ireland for St. Patrick to drive off. The term “snakes” is a metaphor for pagans, who were driven off after St. Patrick brought Christianity to the green isle.
3. The shamrock isn’t specifically a four leaf clover; it’s just a clover, and it’s Ireland’s national flower. Four leaf clovers are considered lucky to find because they are so rare. That’s why they’ve become such an important symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.
4. The reason for wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is to hide from leprechauns, who will pinch everyone they can see. The devious little fairies can’t see the color green, so wearing green protects you from tiny pinches.
5. Yes, you read that right: Leprechauns are fairies. Fairies of Irish folklore weren’t cute little dust- throwing winged creatures. They were unpredictable, using their magic to help you one day if you made them happy, and to hurt you the next if you displeased them. So it’s best if you give them a wide berth, even on St. Patrick’s Day.
6. Every year since 1962, Chicago dyes the Chicago River green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
7. St. Patrick isn’t Irish. He was born in Britain in 385AD. His ties to Ireland came about in 432AD when he traveled as a missionary to Ireland.
8. To make it worse, St. Patrick wasn’t even named Patrick. He was born Maewyn Succat and changed his name to Patricius after he became a priest. St. Patrick’s Day is considered an important religious holiday in Ireland.
9. Leprechaun hunts are a real thing on an Irish mountain called Slieve Foye. In 1989, someone on the mountain claimed to hear a scream in the distance and found a tiny suit, gold coins, and a pile of little bones amid a plot of scorched earth. Now, 100 ceramic leprechauns are hidden on the mountain every year for an annual leprechaun hunt on St. Patrick’s day.
10. The “luck of the Irish” isn’t an Irish phrase. It’s an American term referencing the fact that Irish American miners in the late 1800’s seemed to have had the best success with their mines.
11. St. Patrick’s Day is always on March 17, the day of St. Patrick’s death.
12. Throwing a horseshoe over your head brings you good luck, according to Irish folklore. Unless, of course, you are standing behind the person throwing the horseshoe on St. Patrick’s Day.
Don’t Depend on Luck to Protect Your Network
Cybersecurity relies on far more than a little luck, or the hope that *maybe* threat actors won’t find your pot of gold at the end of your network’s rainbow. Keep the bad guys away from your green with common sense zero-touch security measures, like:
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Device and App Management
- Strong passwords
- Robust antivirus protections
- Identity management
On St. Patrick’s Day, or any other day, don’t rely on luck to protect yourself. Worse than sneaky leprecahns could be breaking into your network. Download this ultimate, do-it-yourself checklist to keep them away from your gold.
