Ever wanted to know what the day is all about? Here’s the downlow...

What’s behind the name?

As the name suggests, St Patrick’s Day commemorates St Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland. What started as a religious feast day is now an international festival celebrating Irish culture. You don’t have to be an Irish to join the festivities on March 17, just Irish at heart.

Why green?

St Patrick’s day is said to have become associated with green because of Ireland’s nickname as “The Emerald Isle” and the green in the Irish flag.

Besides that, there is also the legend that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns. Apparently, the creatures will pinch you if they can see you.

What’s that leaf?

Before you don your St Patrick’s Day clothes, you might want to check whether you have a shamrock or a four-leaf clover patch. “What’s the difference?” you ask.

Well, the shamrock only has three leaves and not four. If you’re wondering what the shamrock represents, it is believed that St Patrick used three leaves to symbolise the Holy Trinity in Christianity.

What’s the story behind all those leprechauns?

One of the joys of celebrating St Patrick’s Day is, no doubt, being able to wear red beards and huge green hats and walk freely around town. There’s an inner leprechaun in all of us, it seems.

In the original Irish stories, the small creatures were depicted as shoemakers who hid the money they made in pots at the end of rainbows.

It is believed that if you were to catch a leprechaun, it will grant you three wishes in exchange for letting him free. So what are you waiting for? Go catch the leprechauns this St Patrick’s Day.

How to get your gold?

Luckily you don’t always need a rainbow to get gold. Liquid gold is all around you on St Patrick’s day.