Gallery: The Real History Of St. Patrick's Day (And Why We Get Drunk)

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The Real History Of St. Patrick's Day (And Why We Get Drunk)
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Christina Buff (Editor)
Patrick Fore/Unsplash

Everyone knows March 17 is the day when everyone covers themselves in gaudy green accessories and guzzles excessive amounts of green beer. That's right — it's St. Patrick's Day.

So, what exactly is this holiday anyways? Does it commemorate the birth of Guinness beer? Is it that celebration of leprechauns and pots of gold? Is it just an ode to Irish people and the color green? God knows there's got to be more to it than the inexorably excessive consumption of alcohol, right? Well, sort of.

CBS

There is actually a legitimate reason why alcohol has long been part of the celebration of St. Patrick, but as with most holidays, there are also many misconceptions. Let's have a history lesson, shall we?

About Christina Buff (Editor)

Christina is a writer, editor, and creator from Southern Maryland that constantly talks about her love for Phish, the Grateful Dead, How I Met Your Mother, and Nashville, Tennessee. She was born with the "anything you can do, I can do better" attitude and can't seem to shake it. Catch up with her on her site Touch Infinity.

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