The History Behind St. Patrick

green beerNow that it’s officially March springtime is just around the corner which is getting quite a few folks in Stratford, CT ready for warmer weather. However, dental implant provider Dr. Jeffrey Hoos and the rest of his staff are also excited about one other thing that March brings and that’s St. Patrick’s day!

One of the main reasons for this excitement is because various recent studies have shown that of the main ingredients in beer – hops – has incredible antibacterial properties. That means this popular drink can actually give a person more than one reason to smile when they are drinking it. The occasional drink of beer can actually help stifle the growth of bacteria in your mouth for a short period of time.

Now, while the antimicrobial properties in hops are all well and good there is actually much more to the history of St. Patrick’s day than drinking beer and wearing the color green. So, in honor of the this most Irish upcoming holiday, we have decided to look into the history of St. Patrick’s day and bring back what we found for you to enjoy!

Let’s take a closer look.

Some Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

You might be surprised to know that there is actually a rich history behind this holiday. It’s not all about drinking beer and wearing green clothes. St. Patrick’s day is a deeply rooted in the culture of the Irish. However, there is actually a wealth of knowledge about this holiday that were willing to bet you didn’t know. Here are some of our favorite ones.

Saint Patrick Was Not Actually Irish

Nope. Contrary to popular belief, the patron saint of this Irish holiday was born in Britain which was, at the time, part of the Roman Empire. At the tender age of sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders and ended up spending six years in captivity! During this time, he converted to Christianity and upon his release from captivity, St. Patrick returned to Ireland and spend the remainder of his life working as a Christian missionary. When St. Patrick died on March 16th, 461 he was largely forgotten. However, centuries later legend took hold of St. Patrick’s existence and he became revered at the patron saint of Ireland.

There Were Never Any Snakes

Another largely popular myth about St. Patrick is that he drove all the snakes from the Emerald Isle. Unfortunately, this is a myth. There have never been any snakes in Ireland because the island it sits on is surrounded by waters much too cold for any snake to successfully navigate. This myth was more so a metaphor for St. Patrick ridding Ireland of paganism, which in itself is another myth!

We Still Celebrate, Though.

Despite the fact that many of the myths surrounding Saint Patrick are not true, the holiday dedicated to him is still best spent with a beer. Here in Stratford, we have no shortage of breweries and places that offer excellent beer. However, in our opinion the buck stops at Two Roads Brewing Co. There is no better place to get a beer in town. Everything is brewed on site, fresh. The food is incredible and each time we visit we are never let down. The staff here make your evening a blast. Warm smiles greet you and it’s just an all-around fantastic location.

Whenever someone new comes to town and asks us where they should go, one place we always suggest first is Two Roads Brewing Company. That being said, come join us for a beer the St. Patrick’s day and let’s celebrate the spirit of the Irish – and healthy smiles – together.

Until next time readers, keep smiling.