5 Myths About St. Patrick's Day Debunked!

March 17, 2017

St. Patrick's Day has become a widely celebrated holiday in America. We get together with friends and family, dress in green and enjoy the many Irish-American traditions that have evolved over time. The Lake of the Ozarks favorite waterfront bar and grill will be celebrating this holiday in the traditional Irish-American way as well, so don't miss out! But the topic got us thinking about how very few people know the Irish truths about St. Patrick's Day. Backwater Jack's is taking a look into the celebration of St. Patrick's Day and debunking some common misconceptions about the holiday. So without further ado, here's the facts, Jack!

Myth: Popular St. Patrick's Day Festivities Originate from Ireland

Fact: St. Patrick’s Day was a Roman Catholic holiday only observed in Ireland until the 1700s. The faithful spent the relatively somber occasion in quiet prayer at church or at home. Only when Irish immigrants living in the United States began organizing parades and other events on March 17 as a show of pride, did it begin to evolve into the culture it is now known for today.

Myth: St. Patrick was Irish

Fact: Though one of Ireland’s patron saints, Patrick was born in what is now England to a Christian deacon and his wife. According to the traditional narrative, St. Patrick was enslaved by Irish raiders who attacked his home. They took him to Ireland and held him captive there for several years. Patrick later escaped and fled to England, where he received religious instruction before returning to Ireland to serve as a missionary.

Myth: St. Patrick Banished Snakes from the Emerald Isle

Fact: Legends state 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 snake-free, water surrounds Ireland, preventing snakes from migrating there. Before it became surrounded by water, 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.

Myth: Green is Associated with St. Patrick's Day

Fact: While Ireland is known for its lush green landscapes, the color originally associated with Saint Patrick was blue. In fact, the knights of the Order of St. Patrick wore blue. The correlation with green representing St. Patrick's day more than likely dates back to the 1790s, when the Society of United Irishmen launched a rebellion to end British rule and found an independent Irish republic. Their flag was green, the color that came to represent the side fighting for Irish independence.

Myth: Corned Beef is a Classic Irish Dish

Fact: On St. Patrick’s Day, folks in the United States and elsewhere savor abundant amounts of corned beef and cabbage. In Ireland, however, the customary dish of choice on the holiday table is a type of bacon similar to ham.

Phew! We feel better about getting the facts straight. Now that you're educated on the common misconceptions of St. Patrick's Day, we can get back to our regularly scheduled program. Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the best waterfront bar and grill at the Lake of the Ozarks! We'll be serving green beer, "me lucky charms" to snack on, and a perfectly prepared Reuben sandwich! There will be live music with Jammin Jay sham-rockin the house starting at 5:30pm and going until 9:30pm. Get your green on and celebrate the Irish-American way at Backwater Jacks!

Search This Blog

Backwater Jacks Waterfront Bar & Grill