Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
I know there is a little bit of Irish in me. OK maybe more than a little. My Dad was Irish. But it wasn’t until today that I thought I would look into the real meaning. So here are a few interesting tidbits I found in the San Diego news.
It is in honor of the most regularly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, St. Patrick, and his role in bringing Christianity to Ireland.
Not a whole lot is known about St. Patrick. One estimate has him living from AD 387-461, but no one is exactly sure when he was born or when he died, though the day of his death has been established as March 17.
It's been said that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the Christian doctrine to the Irish. The shamrock eventually became the symbol of St. Patrick's Day (at some point in the 17th century) and of Irish culture in general.
Interestingly, St. Patrick wasn't even Irish, but was of Scottish-Roman English descent. His real name was said to have been Maewyn Succat. Due to his Anglicized Roman name, he eventually became known as Patrick.
St. Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903. The first St. Patrick's Day parade in the Irish Free State was staged in Dublin in 1931. Curiously, the parade in Montreal was first held almost 100 years earlier -- in 1824. It's one of the longest running St. Patty's Day parades in North America.
So Celebrate the Irish in you at these local events:
Irish Republic St. Patrick's Day Festival: noon-2 a.m.
West Addison St. Patrick's Day Block Party: 11-2 a.m. March 17.
St. Patrick's Day Comedy Show: 7 p.m. March 17
All-You-Can-Eat Corned Beef Feast: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. March 17
So many more things to do that I just couldn’t list them all. So check out Azcentral.com for a complete list.
Enjoy, have fun and be safe. Oh and have a Happy St Patrick’s Day. 
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