St Paddy’s Day is one of the best loved days in the pub calendar and not just in Ireland…as you all know. It gives a real boost to Scotland’s trade too. And this year we the benefit of a nearby weekend. Here are some facts to share with your customers.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is a revered figure in Irish culture and history. However, many people may not know that St. Patrick wasn’t actually Irish – he was born in Britain around the year 385. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he later changed it to Patrick after becoming a priest.
In the US, St. Patrick’s Day is the fourth most popular drinking holiday after New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and the Fourth of July.
In the early 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was a dry holiday in Ireland – meaning no alcohol was consumed. In fact, up until the 1970s, many pubs in Ireland were closed on St. Patrick’s Day out of respect for the religious significance of the holiday.
The traditional meal for St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is corned beef and cabbage. However, this dish is not actually an Irish invention – it is an American adaptation of Irish bacon and cabbage. When Irish immigrants came to the US in the 19th century, they found that beef was more affordable than bacon, and thus began the tradition of serving corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day.
The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world is held in New York City and draws over 2 million spectators. The parade route is over a mile long and takes several hours to complete.
Jameson’s Irish Whiskey is available in more than 120 countries and sells around 20 million bottles a year. It has the biggest share of the global Irish whiskey market.
St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and is celebrated each year on March 17th, the day he died.
The Irish have a tradition of “drowning the shamrock” on St. Patrick’s Day. This involves placing a shamrock at the bottom of a glass and filling it with beer, which is then drunk as a toast to St. Patrick. The shamrock is then taken out of the glass and placed on the drinker’s forehead, supposedly bringing them good luck.
In the 17th century, the Irish celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by drowning a live goat in a barrel of whiskey – thankfully, this tradition no longer exists.
One of Jameson’s new mates this year is What Willy Cook, its official unofficial Jameson Ginger Ale & Lime Ambassador! Chop some lime, fill a glass with 30ml of Jameson & top with ginger ale. And the key – squeeze that lime juice right in.
