Have You Smiled Today? #26

Did you know that Chicago dumps 40 tons of green dye into the Chicago river for St. Patrick's Day? Well, now you do. It began in 1962. And New York City has one of the world's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. When you hear people yelling "Erin go Braugh!" at events, it means "Ireland Forever."

Brewers love St. Patrick's Day because the approximate amount spent on beer around the globe for this holiday is $245 million. The traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage eaten on St. Patrick's Day doesn't have anything to do with the vegetable, corn. The large grains of salt that were used to cure meats are called "corns."

According to Irish legend, Leprechauns are part of the fairy family, and are tricksters that cannot be trusted. They are shoemakers and can be heard tapping with their cobbler hammer as they drive the nails into the shoes, as they make them. Leprechaun's are very wealthy from their shoe making and they are paid in gold, and they keep their pots of gold hidden, at the end of a rainbows. It is also said that a Leprechaun will pinch you if you are not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day. Beware of those mischievous, little men!

Information Source: irishcentral.com, ancient-origins.net, mentalfloss.com

Image Source: Pachino in the grass is mine, the other is from commons.wikimedia.org