St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in the latter half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. However, every year on March 17 people around the world observe his day by wearing green, marching in parades, and celebrating in some unusual ways. See how many of these St. Patrick's Day trivia questions you can answer.
Q. Some U. S. cities paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green. Savannah dyes the water in its downtown city fountains green. What major U. S. city dyes its river green?
A. Since the early 1960's the city of Chicago has been dying the Chicago River green, when it was accidentally discovered that the dye used to detect leaks into the river turned the river green. The dye is orange and its initial color on the surface of the river is orange, but after a moment or two it turns green, as if by leprechaun magic. (greenchicagoriver.com)
Q. Who is Maewyn Succat and why is he important to St. Patrick's Day?
A. Saint Patrick's name at birth was Maewyn Succat. He was born somewhere near the end of the fourth century and took on the name Patrick or Patricius, after he became a priest, much later in his life. At the age of sixteen Maewyn Succat was kidnapped from his native land of Britain, by a band of pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. (funmunch.com)
Q. St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and in only one other place in the world. Where is that place?
A. The island of Montserrat, known as "Emerald Island of the Caribbean" due to its foundation by Irish refugees from Saint Kitts and Nevis, is the only place in the world apart from the Republic of Ireland and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador in which St Patrick's Day is a public holiday. The holiday commemorates a failed slave uprising that occurred on March 17, 1798. (theholidayspot.com)
Q. You might think that the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world takes place somewhere in Ireland. Not true. Can you guess what city has that honor?
A. The New York City parade has become the largest Saint Patrick's Day parade in the world. In 2006 more than 150,000 marchers participated in it, including bands, firefighters, military and police groups, county associations, emigrant societies, and social and cultural clubs, and it was watched by close to 2 million spectators lining the streets. New York politicians - or those running for office - are always found prominently marching in the parade. (theholidayspot.com)
Q. One U.S. city has the distinction of a St. Patrick's Day celebration where locals can gather under a traffic light where the green light is on top. What city is this?
A. Syracuse, NY, has the only working traffic light with green on the top in the US. This green on top traffic light is referred to as "the upside-down light" by the locals. It is tradition to paint the road under the light green every year at12:01 AM on March 17th. This is the biggest day of the year on "Tip Hill," Syracuse's Irish neighborhood. (roadsideamerica.com)
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