Do You Know the Truth About St. Patrick?

March 17 marks St. Patrick’s Day, celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. Nowadays it’s recognized all over the world, and in a city like Barcelona, it’s become an excuse to get together with friends and tomar algo (grab a drink).

For starters, we must explain some hard truths: Saint Patrick wasn’t born in Ireland, nor was he named “Patrick.” He wasn’t even a saint, given that he was never canonized. His real name was “Maewyn Succat” and historians claim he was born in Scotland or Wales at the end of the 14th century.

Legend has it that while the adolescent Maewyn was once walking with his sheep, he was abducted by pirates who took him to Ireland. Once he arrived, he was able to escape and returned to England, where decided to become a monk and took the name “Patrick.”

It wasn’t until Maewyn became an adult that he returned to Ireland, this time as a missionary in an effort to introduce Christianity to the Celtic people who occupied the island at that point in time. Patrick’s impact in Ireland is what makes him one of the most common names among Irish people even to this day.

We should also mention that St. Patrick’s Day itself didn’t begin in Ireland, but rather in the United States during the mass waves of immigration from Ireland and Eastern Europe, especially. Many Irish immigrants began celebrating the holiday around 1700 to keep their roots alive. (It’s no accident that the most famous catholic church in New York is St. Patrick’s Cathedral.)

One of the most well-known traditions of St. Patrick’s Day is the “drowning the shamrock,” which consists of dropping a clover into the last round of beer or whiskey — the most common drinks of Ireland — for good luck and a year of prosperity, according to legend. Actually, the shamrock was used by Patrick during his years as a missionary to spread the word about the Trinity among the Irish people.

Speaking of drinks, Guinness — the dark beer from Dublin — is the preferred potion for most of the world. When you raise your glass, also don’t forget to say “Sláinte!” the Gaelic word for “cheers!” And lastly, don’t forget to wear something green, as many English-speaking cities use this color to decorate their monuments (even their rivers!) on St. Patrick’s Day.

If you live in Barcelona, you should know Hard Rock Cafe puts on a great St. Patrick’s Day party every year. You can enjoy the magic of Ireland, along with live contemporary Irish folk music by Los Stompers and Irish dance performances from Nuala Barcelona. All you need is a drink and you’ll be practically transported to Ireland.