st. patrick's day

WTF Fun Fact 13286 – U.S. St. Patrick’s Day Spending


The National Retail Federation’s annual St. Patrick’s Day survey (cited below) found that 148 million Americans plan to celebrate the holiday this year, up from 139 million in 2022. This increase in celebrants is likely due to the continued rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and the easing of pandemic-related restrictions on gatherings and events.

St. Patrick’s Day spending hits an all-time high

Consumers plan to spend a total of $6.9 billion, or an average of $43.84 per person. That’s over $1 billion more than last year.

The NRF’s survey also found that the largest portion of St. Patrick’s Day spending will go towards food and beverages, with the average person planning to spend $35.37 on items like green beer, Irish whiskey, and traditional Irish foods like corned beef and cabbage.

Americans are getting their Irish on via clothing and decorations too. 23% of survey respondents planned to buy green-themed clothing and accessories like hats, t-shirts, and socks. 14% planned to purchase home decorations like shamrock-themed tablecloths, napkins, and placemats.

The NRF notes this record-breaking St. Patrick’s Day spending is good news for retailers and businesses. Many of these have struggled over the past two years due to the pandemic.

With the holiday falling on a Friday in 2023, many Americans will continue to celebrate throughout the weekend. This will provide even more opportunities for spending on food, drinks, and festivities.

The NRF also notes that this is an all-ages affair.

“Although younger consumers are still more likely to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than any other age group, celebration plans among those 35 and up are on the rise. As consumers start aging out of the 18- to 34-year-old category, they’re bringing their enthusiasm for St. Patrick’s Day with them to the next stage in their lives. Maybe their favorite color is green, maybe they really like corned beef hash, but whatever it is, they keep coming back for more St. Patrick’s Day.”

Of course, the pandemic is not over yet, and St. Paddy’s celebrations may still be impacted by COVID-19. But with vaccines becoming more widely available, celebrations will probably be more robust this year.

— WTF fun facts

Source: “How consumers are celebrating a record-breaking St. Patrick’s Day” — National Retail Federation

WTF Fun Fact 13278 – St. Patrick’s Day Blue

Ready to don your St. Patrick’s Day blue and head out to the Irish pub crawl on March 17th?

If you’re like most people, you probably associate St. Patrick’s Day with the color green. After all, the iconic shamrock and leprechaun hats are all decked out in various shades of this vibrant hue. But did you know blue was just as much associated with St. Patrick as green?

St. Patrick’s Day blue

The truth is, the origins of St. Patrick’s Day are steeped in history and tradition, dating back to the early days of Christianity in Ireland.

Legend has it that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, used the three leaves of the shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. The color green, then, became a symbol of both St. Patrick’s teachings and the lush, rolling hills of the Irish countryside.

But what about blue?

Blue was actually the original color of St. Patrick – or at least the Order of St. Patrick. This chivalric order was established in 1783 to honor the patron saint of Ireland. Members of the order wore blue uniforms as they marched in parades on St. Patrick’s Day.

But even before that, blue was a prominent color in Irish mythology and folklore. The ancient Celts associated blue with the mystical realm inhabited by supernatural beings. Blue was also associated with water, which was seen as a source of life and renewal.

According to Smithsonian Magazine (cited below):

“When Henry VIII assumed the throne, after more than 300 years of English rule over Ireland, he took steps to strengthen his hold on the isle, declaring himself King of Ireland in 1541, making it a part of the England and giving it its own coat of arms. This was the first official instance of connecting the color blue with Ireland, using a golden harp on a blue background; the same symbol can be seen today on the Constitution of Ireland and the Presidential flag.”

The use of green as the color of St. Patrick’s Day can be traced in part back to the 19th century. Irish revolutionaries wore green as a symbol of their cause.

Blue bows to green

Over time, the popularity of the green shamrock rose as a symbol of Ireland. And St. Patrick’s Day overshadowed the blue of the Order of St. Patrick. The rest, as they say, is history.

So next time you head out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, remember the history and traditions that shaped the holiday. You might even consider raising a glass while wearing blue this year!

— WTF fun facts

Source: “Should We Be Wearing Blue on St. Patrick’s Day?” — Smithsonian Magazine