Page 1 - March 2026 Cascadian

C a s c a d i a n C a s c a d i a n
Vol. 22, No. 3 A Publication of the Cascades at St. Lucie West Residents Association, Inc. MARCH 2026
When St. Patrick’s Day arrives each year, one might start
thinking about which nearby bars are serving green beer,
which parades are happening close by to take the family to
and what you have in your closet that will help ensure you
don’t get pinched by any “oh-so-funny” friends of yours
throughout the day.
started in 1952.
10. Each year, 5.5 million people visit New York’s St. Patrick’s
Cathedral.
11. Britannica reported that, before St. Patrick became a
missionary, he had been kidnapped at the age of 16 and
taken to Ireland as a slave.
But many of us are less likely to consider the holiday’s origin
and why we celebrate it to begin with. Many of us, in fact,
might not have a clue about St. Patrick’s Day history and
may be surprised by some of its backstory (like how, for
many years, Irish bars were actually banned from opening
on this day!). Fortunately, we have all the St. Patrick’s Day
history, facts and trivia that you need to know!
12. St. Patrick is said to have been buried in the town
of Downpatrick, County Down, in Northern Ireland,
according to Biography.com.
13. There are two autobiographical writings from St. Patrick
himself, including Confession and Letter to Coroticus.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the life of Saint Patrick—
the patron saint of Ireland. This influential missionary
has been credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland,
according to History.com. St. Patrick’s Day takes place on
March 17 each year because St. Patrick’s death is believed to
have been on March 17, 461. The Church began observing a
special feast to honor him on this day starting in 1631.
14. Traditionally, Catholic families go to church on the
morning of St. Patrick’s Day and partake in a meal that
includes cabbage and Irish bacon.
15. Time reported that Dublin’s first official celebration of
St. Patrick’s Day did not occur until 1931.
15 St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Questions
15 Fun and Interesting St. Patrick’s Day Facts
1. Question: What’s another name for St. Patrick’s Day?
Answer: The Feast of Saint Patrick.
1. St. Patrick’s Day always falls on the 17th of March.
2. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in America—
not in Ireland, according to History.com.
2. Question: Where was Saint Patrick actually born?
Answer: Roman Britain (What is now either England,
Scotland or Wales).
3. The New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade is the world’s
oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States.
3. Question: How many hours does the NYC St. Patrick’s
Day parade take? Answer: Over five hours.
4. 4. Chicago began its annual tradition of turning the Chicago
River green on St. Patrick’s Day in 1962, per History.
com.
Question: How many pounds of green vegetable dye are
now used to turn the Chicago River green? Answer: 40
pounds.
5. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was viewed mostly as a
religious observance and, up until the 1960s, they even
had laws that forbade bars from being open that day,
according to Time.
5. Question: What do some historians believe was St.
Patrick’s real name? Answer: Maewyn Succat.
6. Question: According to legend, what happened during
one of St. Patrick’s sermons on the Irish hillside?
Answer: Legend has it that, while He was speaking, all
of the snakes were driven out into the sea.
6. It wasn’t until 1798 (the year of the Irish Rebellion) that
the color green became officially associated with St.
Patrick’s Day, according to Time. Before then, another
color was originally associated with St. Patrick (see the
trivia below!).
7. Question: What color was originally associated with St.
Patrick? Answer: Blue.
7. St. Patrick’s Day switched over from a strictly holy day for
Catholics to an official Irish public holiday in 1903, Irish
Central reported.
8. Question: According to legend, what did
St. Patrick use to describe the Holy Trinity?
Answer: The shamrock.
9. Question: What is another term used for Ireland?
Answer: “The Emerald Isle.”
8. Although St. Patrick’s Day falls within the period of
Lent—a time when the Catholic Church prohibits eating
meat—the ban is lifted on this specific day of celebration,
per Irish Central.
10. Question: What does St. Patrick’s name mean? Answer:
“Patricius,” or “Patrick,” comes from the Latin term for
“father figure.”
9. The annual shamrock ceremony in the White House
… continued on page 9