DRINK.

is that he is widely revered today as the patron saint of Ireland, but has yet to be canonized by a pope.

PARADES & PARTIES

As for today’s celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day often means parades—and drinking. Contrary to belief, parades didn’t start with the Irish. The first such event took place in Boston in 1737, with New York City following 25 years later. Dublin didn’t offer a parade until 1931. In the Big Apple’s iconic event, about 150,000 marchers walk for up to five hours on Fifth Avenue. It doesn’t take that long in Hot Springs, Arkan - sas—their parade route measures 98 feet in length. And that’s no myth.

Dublin didn’t hold it’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade until 1931.

March 17 often falls during a period of Lenten abstinence, but Patrician tradition decrees that the faithful are free from this constraint. That’s why the holiday is often steeped in drunken revelry.