“Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Or so the saying goes. But some are more convincingly Irish than others. Which is why I thought I’d help you become Irish for a day with a few little-known facts about St. Patrick’s Day.

• The first non-religious celebration of St. Patrick’s Day didn’t take place in Ireland, but in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737.
• Irish Coffee was actually invented in San Francisco, California.
• A four-leaf clover1 is supposed to bring good luck, but the world record number of leaflets found on a shamrock is 14.
• The ratio of pubs to people in Ireland is 1:350.
• The American Heart Association says a daily Guinness could be as effective as a daily aspirin in reducing the risk of heart attacks.

Green beer and corned beef aren’t the only ways you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Wear the green, learn a few Irish blessings and show off your new knowledge. And it wouldn’t hurt to learn the lyrics to “Danny Boy.”

Your “Sláinte!” Gift Guru,
Linda