St. Patrick's Day: Bet You Didn't Know | History

Every March 17th, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world. Learn more about this Irish holiday and the patron saint it is named after in this History digital exclusive.
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[bobholly]

The snakes deal is Paganism. Paganism is often represented as snakes, dragons, etc in early Christian artwork and "killing it" or "driving them out" is often a symbol of conversion to the Christian faith.

[konnorrockkonnoisseur]

“...spent 6 years in ‘captivity’”. You mean slavery my guy.

[miyosalazar]

POV: you’re here because you have to answer questions in your English/History class

[funnymufflerjerkypalboobookeys]

I’m only watching this because my teacher made us
By that I mean we’re at home cuz of coronavirus and we have to watch this for assignment

[jakeupinfinity]

Why can't the history Channel pay for music that's not free?

[reginaldgreen]

"I Just bought my mom flowers for St. Patrick's Day! For the celebration!"

[marthastewartschowchow]

"Sending hundreds of thousands of Irish into New York" Ellis island alone saw 3.5 million Irish enter New York City.

[NextToToddliness]

Points out the thing with the snakes was a metaphor, then begins to explain how scientifically snakes couldn't have existed there... 🙄

[AaronDawgzilla]

I'm always born to wear green anytime, anywhere for good ol' St. Patricks Day on March 17th for a long time.

[Maximidos]

The only people watching this are fellow Irish, and at least 3/4ths of us already knew this.

[kennyhumble]

It's like everything we celebrate is a lie and has a bad past

[personone]

There is a lot of information left out.
St. Patrick's day is a catholic holiday, so for long time catholics in Ireland were oppressed by the prostants. The flag of Ireland use to be all green. The current flag symbolizes the catholic and prostant ( orange) peace for most not all parts Ireland. Irish catholics were not allowed to own land, vote, participate in government, and many other things the prostants did to oppressed them.

[Mark-O]

Another fact is the Protestants of Northern Ireland mostly don't celebrate it but Patrick had close links to the north, he most likely spent most of his missionary here and he formed his first church here.

[actually]

2:04 "and then nothing else happened don't worry about why they throw heads of cabbage onto wrought iron fence spikes either."

[CC-kfnc]

:52 of course they don’t have snakes he chases them all out !!!!lol

[jygxxdt]

Saint Patrick And Saint Patrick's Day 😊☘🍀🟩⬜🟧💙💜

[andriamccormick]

1:25 What are you talking about ? I've seen shamrocks around my town. I call them 3 leaf clovers. ☘️

[prodcloudzy]

yo i thought the squeaking was my mom comin in my room lmao

[patrickmalone]

Shamrocks don't exist?!?

The name shamrock comes from Irish "seamróg", which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair óg and simply means "young clover" (the adjective follows the noun).

Ceann cabáiste

[lisazimmerman]

A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg [ˈʃamˠɾˠoːɡ], which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair óg and simply means "young clover". Wikipedia