I always was fascinated by traditions, legends, and their origins. St Patrick is known for having brought Christianity to Ireland and cast the snakes out of the island.
Legend has it that Patrick stood on an Irish hillside and delivered a sermon that drove the island’s serpents into the sea. While it’s true that the Emerald Isle is mercifully snake-free, chances are that’s been the case throughout human history. Water has surrounded Ireland since the end of the last glacial period, preventing snakes from slithering over; before that, it was blanketed in ice and too chilly for the cold-blooded creatures. Scholars believe the snake story is an allegory for St. Patrick’s eradication of pagan ideology.
Although the knights of St. Patrick wore blue, green is the color of the Emerald Isle. It's also the color of the shamrock.
As for the traditional food, I suspect it was different in the days of the saint. And the green beer is definitely a modern tradition.
But today, everyone is celebrating, and everyone is Irish. Enjoy the celebrations!
HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!
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