10 Things You Didn't Know About St. Patrick's Day
We're all a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day. From shamrocks to snakes, Guinness to the Blarney Stone, TIME takes a look at some of the lesser-known facts about the world's favorite Irish holiday
The Shamrock
St. Patrick is credited with taking Christianity to Ireland around A.D. 432. To sell his message, Irish legend says he chose the shamrock as a symbol of the Christian church. Its three leaves were meant to represent the Holy Trinity: God, Son and the Holy Spirit, joined together by a common stalk. Apparently, the shamrock campaign worked: by the time of St. Patrick's death on March 17, 461, he had created a number of churches, schools and monasteries dedicated to the faith.
How would you rank the "10 Things You Didn't Know About St. Patrick's Day?" Re-sort this list »Related Lists
Around the Web
-
Anne Burrell Comes Out: Food Network Star Confirms She's A Lesbian
From THE HUFFINGTON POST
-
John Edwards Trial Juror Flirting With Ex-Senator
From THE HUFFINGTON POST
-
Tide Redesigning Box After Kids Mistake Detergent For Candy
From SLATE
-
Islamist Leader Likely To Face Former PM in Egyptian Runoff
From SLATE
