The Ultimate St. Patrick's Quiz: 100 Qs (1)

[A] March 17 | The feast of Ireland's patron saint—celebrated worldwide with shamrocks, parades, and a whole lot of green. It marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick in 461 AD, though he probably didn't anticipate the river-dyeing festivities.

[B] Britain | Plot twist: Ireland's patron saint wasn't Irish! He was kidnapped by Irish raiders at 16, making him history's most successful case of Stockholm syndrome turned national hero.

[C] Maewyn Succat | Before becoming Ireland's VIP, he had a name that sounds like a Star Wars character. He changed it to Patricius after becoming a priest, probably for easier pronunciation.

[A] A shamrock | Three leaves, one plant—theology made simple with backyard botany. This teaching tool became Ireland's national symbol, proving that visual aids work even in the 5th century.

[B] 6 years | Teenage Patrick spent six years as a shepherd slave before escaping. He later returned to convert his captors, showing impressive forgiveness skills and zero grudge-holding abilities.

[D] 461 AD | He passed away on March 17, 461 AD, giving us the perfect excuse for annual celebrations. Without this specific date, we'd probably be partying randomly throughout March.

[B] Chicago | Since 1962, Chicago turns its river emerald using forty pounds of eco-friendly dye. The tradition started accidentally when plumbers used dye to detect illegal sewage dumps—talk about turning pollution detection into party mode!

[A] 1762 | Irish soldiers serving in the British Army marched through NYC, making it older than American independence. The parade predates the Declaration of Independence by 14 years!

[C] Waterford | While Dublin gets the tourists, Waterford's been parading since 1903. They were celebrating when Dublin was still treating March 17 like a regular Tuesday.

[D] Green | Though Saint Patrick actually wore blue (seriously!), green took over thanks to Ireland's nickname "Emerald Isle" and shamrock symbolism. Blue Patrick would confuse everyone at this point.

[A] Leprechaun | These tiny, bearded shoemakers supposedly hide gold at rainbow's end. They're basically Ireland's version of venture capitalists, but with better fashion sense and worse attitudes.

[B] Shoemaker | Leprechauns cobble fairy shoes, which explains their wealth—custom footwear for magical beings must pay incredibly well. No wonder they can afford those pots of gold.

[D] A pot of gold | The ultimate Irish retirement plan sits where rainbows touch earth. Good luck finding that GPS coordinate—rainbows are notoriously bad at giving directions.

[C] Corned beef and cabbage | Ironically, this "traditional" meal is American—Irish immigrants substituted corned beef for bacon. Real Irish folks are eating lamb stew while Americans munch their cultural remix.

[A] 1962 | Plumbers accidentally discovered the green dye while detecting leaks, proving that the best traditions come from workplace accidents. The river stays green for about five hours of aquatic festivity.

[B] Ireland | It only took 1,442 years after Patrick's death for Ireland to make it official. Government bureaucracy moved faster back then—just kidding, they were exactly as slow.

[D] Harry S. Truman | Since 1952, Irish leaders hand-deliver shamrocks to the White House in a Waterford crystal bowl. It's international plant trafficking, but with diplomatic immunity.

[C] Erin go Bragh | Meaning "Ireland forever," this battle cry sounds way cooler than "permanent Ireland." It's the Celtic equivalent of a nationalist hashtag from the 1800s.

[C] Beer | Americans drink about 13 million pints of Guinness globally on March 17, triple the usual amount. Saint Patrick probably didn't envision his legacy including massive beer sales.

[D] Green, white, and orange | Green represents Catholics, orange represents Protestants, and white symbolizes peace between them. It's basically a flag-sized peace treaty with better graphic design.

[A] Dublin | Home to Trinity College, Temple Bar, and tourists who can't pronounce "Dún Laoghaire." Half the country's population lives within 100km of this Viking-founded city.

[B] Shamrock | Not technically a flower but a young clover, shamrocks are worn as nature's temporary tattoo. They wilt quickly, symbolizing either life's fragility or poor plant care.

[D] 1737 | Boston's Irish Charitable Society threw America's first St. Patrick's party, proving Bostonians have always loved any excuse for day drinking and parades.

[A] Uisce beatha | Literally "water of life," because the Irish understand priorities. The word "whiskey" itself comes from this phrase, after several rounds of pronunciation telephone.

[B] Belfast | While Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and home to the shipyard that built the Titanic. It's a city with its own rich, complex history.

[C] Harp | Ireland's the only country with a musical instrument as its national symbol, appearing on everything from coins to Guinness labels. They really committed to the "land of music" brand.

[A] 16 | Kidnapped as a teenager and forced into slavery, Patrick's origin story reads like a medieval revenge plot that ended in religious conversion instead of violence.

[C] Lamb, potatoes, and vegetables | The original comfort food, traditionally made with mutton because lamb was too valuable. Irish grandmothers have been perfecting this recipe since potatoes arrived from America.

[D] Lá Fhéile Pádraig | Try saying that three times fast after a pint of Guinness. It literally means "the Day of the Festival of Patrick," because why use three words when you can use five?

[B] Riverdance | Michael Flatley turned Irish step dancing into a global phenomenon, proving that keeping your arms perfectly still while your legs go crazy is surprisingly entertaining.