St. Patrick's Day Quiz
By Myriam Gabriel-Pollock

Don't forget to wear green on March 17! St. Patrick's Day, which has its origins in Ireland, is now celebrated in many parts of the world -- a chance for everyone to be Irish for a day and wear a shamrock, drink green beer and watch a lively parade. Ace our St. Paddy's Day quiz and your friends will be green with envy. Luck o' the Irish to you!


1. St. Patrick's Day honors Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, also called the Apostle of Ireland. He is credited with:
St. Patrick (Image credit: Library of Congress/CORBIS-BETTMANN)

a) Making the shamrock Ireland's national
symbol
b) Converting Ireland to Christianity
c) Driving the snakes out of Ireland
d) All of the above


2. A popular St. Patrick's Day tradition is wearing green clothing. What does the green symbolize?

a) The green on Ireland's flag
b) Ireland's lush landscape
c) The emeralds on St. Patrick's bishop's
scepter
d) The wealth of the leprechauns

3. The first St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States was held in which city?
Bagpipers on Parade (Image credit: REUTERS/THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE)

a) North Bend, Ind.
b) New York City
c) Dublin, Ohio
d) Boston


4. In Irish folklore, a leprechaun is a small magical man who has a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. What is a leprechaun's usual job?
Rainbow (Image credit: Phil Jude/Science Source/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

a) Blacksmith
b) Shoemaker
c) Baker
d) Candlestick maker


5. In Ireland, where St. Patrick's Day is an important religious holiday that happens to fall during Lent, many enjoy a traditional meal that includes colcannon -- boiled potatoes and this vegetable, mashed together with butter:

a) Rutabagas
b) Turnips
c) Cabbage
d) Beets


6. The shamrock, Ireland's national symbol, is from the Irish "seamrog." What does this translate to?
Shamrock (Image credit: Geoff Kidd/Oxford Scientific Films)

a) Tiny treasure
b) Little clover
c) Green flower
d) Sweet hope


7. Which is a classic Irish toast, especially when having a pint of stout or lager at the local Irish pub?

a) Ceapaire!
b) Sláinte!
c) Geansaí!
d) Ríomhaire!


8. In Chicago, what popular St. Patrick's Day tradition started in 1962?

a) Dyeing the Chicago River green for a day
b) Free green beer at Wrigley Field
c) Lighting the Sears Tower antennas green
d) The Leprechaun Parade on the Magnificent
Mile


9. Baseball's Boston Red Sox was the first team to play in green jerseys to mark St. Patrick's Day. In what year did this lucky tradition begin?
Baseball Game (Image credit: Yoav Levy/Phototake NYC)

a) 1915
b) 1967
c) 1986
d) 2004


10. Which Caribbean destination is only one of three places in the world where St. Patrick's Day is an official public holiday?

a) Aruba
b) British Virgin Islands
c) Montserrat
d) Cayman Islands






Answers:
1. d
2. b
3. d
4. b
5. c
6. d
7. b
8. a
9 d
10.c