St. Patrick’s Day is a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and religious traditions, marked by festivities and parties. In the United States, this includes lively parades and indulging in green drinks and food.
However, keeping up with the St. Patrick’s Day tradition isn’t about sourcing beer, it’s about enjoying a specially dyed green drink.
Although this practice is common today, the history of green beer is more interesting than many think.
Facts you may not know about St. Patrick’s Day
The technology that makes beer environmentally friendly has evolved significantly since its inception.
Why drink green beer?
According to a report in Irish Central, the tradition of drinking green beer was started in 1914 by a man named Dr. Thomas Hayes Curtin.
Curtin, an Irish immigrant, was working professionally as a coroner in New York City at the time.
The technology that makes beer environmentally friendly has evolved significantly since its inception. (iStock, provided by user hironosov)
The story goes that he first introduced green beer at a social club in the Bronx. Witnesses said everything in the club was decorated in green and Irish songs were being sung during the beer launch.
Apparently the only thing that wasn’t green was the glass the beer was poured into.
At the time, doctors only seemed to admit to adding a drop of “wash blue” to an unspecified amount of beer to make it green.
It is eventually revealed that “Wash Blue” is actually an iron powder solution used in laundry.
This substance was toxic to humans.
St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a worldwide celebration, and Guinness plays an important role in bringing people together.
Fortunately, technology has advanced enough that anyone can enjoy green beer without ingesting iron poison. According to the Betty Crocker website, making green beer is as simple as adding a few drops of green food coloring to a glass and adding beer.
The cooking website warns that to properly color the beer, it’s important to add food coloring to the glass first.
Which famous beer is associated with St. Patrick’s Day?
When it comes to typical St. Patrick’s Day drinks, Guinness often takes the spotlight.
St. Patrick’s Day: America’s Biggest Party to Celebrate Irish Luck
St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a worldwide celebration, and Guinness plays an important role in bringing people together. Available all over the world, people from all backgrounds can take part in Irish festivities, even if only for one day.
A popular St. Patrick’s Day tradition is enjoying drinks that are specially dyed green. (Mark Makera/Getty Images)
Guinness is just one of many beers that originate from Ireland, but each one deserves a moment of appreciation during this St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
As the saying goes, “Sláinte!” — a hearty toast to health and well-being, often accompanied by a satisfying sip of the iconic black and tan.
Why do we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?
Green is the most recognizable color for St. Patrick’s Day festivities, especially green clothing.
St. Patrick’s Day: The history behind the US holiday
The main reason why green is so prominent during this holiday comes from Ireland’s nickname, the Emerald Isle. Ireland’s flag has a green stripe, representing the island’s common Catholic heritage.
Legend has it that St. Patrick himself used the green shamrock trefoils (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) to introduce the pagan Irish to the Holy Trinity of Christianity. .
Guinness is one of the most popular beers among Irish beer lovers. However, it is often used with Irish Carbomb drinks because it is too dark to be green. This includes Irish cream, Irish liqueur, and a pint of stout (most often Guinness). (Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images)
However, the wearing of green is based more on folklore than on religious symbolism.
In Irish mythology, the leprechaun is a mischievous little bearded man in a top hat and coat who keeps a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
They usually wear green clothing and will pinch anyone who is not wearing that color.
Click here to sign up for our lifestyle newsletter
Legend has it that you should wear green on March 17th if you want to avoid being pinched by mysterious elves and friends.
Are there any side effects from drinking green beer?
The side effects of drinking green beer are the same as regular beer.
The green color commonly found in beer on St. Patrick’s Day is made up of food coloring that is generally harmless, plant-based, and has no noticeable side effects to consumers.
13 million pints Guinness, a popular Irish dry stout brand, is estimated to be consumed every year on St. Patrick’s Day. (Robertus Pudiant/Getty Images)
However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overall side effects of drinking beer include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
How much green beer is consumed on St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick’s Day is considered one of the most beer-consuming days of the year in the United States.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The exact number of green beer consumed each year is unknown, but 13 million pints According to Business Insider, Guinness, Ireland’s popular dry stout brand, is estimated to be consumed during the holiday season.
Michael Hollan and Phillip Nieto contributed reporting.
For more lifestyle articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
