He is the foremost patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigit of Kildare and Columba.

On March 17, 461 A.D., Saint Patrick, Christian missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, where he had built his first church.

The absence of snakes in Ireland gave rise to the legend that they had all been banished by Patrick who chased them into the sea after they attacked him during a 40-day fast. However, most biologists maintain there were never any snakes in Ireland.

According to legend, they spend all their time making and mending shoes, then stashing all their earnings in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Saint Patrick's Day revelers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns, fairy creatures who would pinch anyone they could see.

Dyeing the Chicago River green has been a St. Patrick's Day tradition since 1962. (It takes 40 tons of dye to get the river to a suitably festive shade!)

His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed his name to Patricius after becoming a priest.

About 13 million pints of Guinness are consumed each year on March 17.

Many claim the shamrock represents faith, hope, and love, or any number of other things but it was actually used by Patrick to teach the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

From 1999 to 2007, the Irish village of Dripsey proudly touted that it hosted the world's shortest Saint Patrick's Day parade. The route ran for 26 yards between two pubs.