St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Time: 30 Fascinating Facts About St. Paddy’s Day

Interesting St. Paddy’s Day history, funny trivia questions and more.

March 17 is officially here and that means it’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! And while you may be wondering which restaurants will be offering green beer and if there will be any St. Paddy’s Day parades going on in your city, have you ever stopped and wondered about the history of St. Patrick’s Day?

If not, you’re not alone—a lot of people don’t know the backstory of how St. Patrick’s Day started or why certain things, like leprechauns and pots of gold, are associated with the fun holiday.

But lucky for you, this list can help. From explaining who St. Patrick was and why we celebrate the holiday in March to unraveling the reason people wear green on St. Paddy’s Day and when four-leaf clovers became part of the tradition, these 30 St. Patrick’s Day trivia tidbits will help you unravel the history and true meaning of the holiday

So if you’ve ever found yourself even a little bit curious about St. Paddy’s Day, we’re about to fill you in. And with the luck of the Irish on your side, you’ll soon be a St. Patrick’s Day trivia master thanks to this big list of fascinating St. Paddy’s facts and trivia.

Related: Color Us Surprised! Learn Exactly How the Chicago River Turns Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Question: What are some other names used to refer to St. Patrick’s Day?Answer: The Day of the Festival of Patrick and The Feast of Saint Patrick

Question: The first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1762 didn’t take place in Ireland as you might have thought. Where did it take place?Answer: The United States

Question: Green hasn’t always been associated with Saint Patrick’s Day. That actually didn’t happen until when?Answer: 1798

Question: Each year in Chicago since 1962, the Plumber Union dyes what Kelly green?Answer: The river

Related: Color Us Surprised! Learn Exactly How the Chicago River Turns Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Question: To celebrate St. Patty’s Day in Ireland, Dublin hosts a huge festival that lasts how many days?Answer: Four days

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Question: What was St. Patrick’s Day originally mean to celebrate?Answer: It was a day honoring Saint Patrick for introducing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.

Question: What mythological being is a part of St. Patrick’s Day lore and Irish culture?Answer: Leprechauns

Question: Where was the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland held in 1903?Answer: Waterford, Ireland

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Question: According to Irish legends, Saint Patrick’s changed his name to Patricius after becoming a priest. What was his name at birth?Answer: Maewyn Succat

Question: Even though it’s a big drinking day now, St. Patty’s Day used to be a dry holiday up until what decade?Answer: The 1970s

Question: NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day parade has been happening since 1762 and is one of the world’s largest parades. About how many marchers does it typically have?Answer: Around 250,000 marchers

Question: What major Catholic holiday does St. Patrick’s Day occur during?Answer: Lent

Question: There’s a tradition that Irish government leaders give United States president shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day dating back to 1952, when John Hearne first sent some to which former U.S. president?Answer: President Harry Truman

Related: Wait, There’s No Such Thing as a Leprechaun…Is There?

Question: Before becoming a priest, Saint Patrick was abducted and brought to Northern Ireland at what age?Answer: 16

Question: Where is the home of the biggest Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in South America?Answer: Buenos Aries

Question: What year did St. Patrick’s Day went from being a strictly holy day for Catholics to an official Irish holiday?Answer: 1903

Question: Saint Patrick wasn’t actually Irish like many think. Where was he believed to have been born?Answer: Scotland or Wales

Question: St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, which is the anniversary of what?Answer: Saint Patrick’s death, not his birthday, like some people assume.

Related: 50 Best St. Patrick’s Day Wishes To Toast Your Friends and Family

Question: Since 1992, what Japanese city has put on its own St. Patrick’s Day parade?Answer: Tokyo

Question: While cabbage and corned beef are considered to be a traditional St. Patrick’s Day dish, it’s actually not an authentic Irish meal. If the Irish themselves didn’t create it, who did?Answer: Irish American immigrants

Question: What iconic structure turns green to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in England?Answer: The London Eye

Question: In the 17th century, green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day. What color was associated with the holiday originally?Answer: Blue

Question: The most popular drink to have on St. Patrick’s Day is Guinness. Roughly how many pints are served on St. Patty’s Day?Answer: Approximately  13 million pints

Question: Up until the 1970s, what used to be closed in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day?Answer: Pubs

Question: Three-leafed shamrocks were believed to be used by Saint Patrick to explain what?Answer: The Holy Trinity

Question: In Mumbai, what iconic structure is turned green each year to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?Answer: The Gateway of India

Question: What Irish Franciscan invented St. Patrick’s Day?Answer: Luke Wadding

Question: What do places like Argentina, England, Norway, Turkey, New Zealand, Canada, Moscow and India have in common?Answer: They all celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Question: In 2020, the St. Patrick’s Day parade was canceled in NYC for the first time in how many years because of COVID?Answer: Over 250 years

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