THINGS THAT CAN BRING YOU LUCK ON ST PATRICKS DAY

One of the lucky St. Patrick’s Day traditions in Ireland is to don the color green, as the hue symbolizes Ireland’s lush landscape. “Ireland itself is even known as the ‘Green Isle’ or the ‘Emerald Isle,’” Kinealy says. But most people might be surprised to learn that the color also has a political history behind it.

Another reason to wear green for luck is that legend has it leprechauns can’t see you if you’re wearing the verdant color. And if they do see you, they will pinch you! Likewise, tradition says you can pinch someone on St. Patrick’s Day who isn’t wearing green—but this may be more an Americanization than a true Irish custom. In fact, leprechauns originally wore red in Irish folklore.