This article was published on March 13th, 2015

St. Patrick’s Day is the feast day and anniversary of the death of Christian missionary, Patrick, who was born in 387, near the present day boarder of Scotland and England. At the age of 16, the young man was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave. During his time as a slave, he turned to religion and would eventually flee back to his family.

Patrick would eventually return to Ireland, playing an important role as a missionary, converting many to Christianity and ridding the island of snakes, although there were no known species of snakes in Ireland for over 10,000 years. St. Patrick died on March 17, in either 461 or 493, depending on the source. He was buried in Downpatrick, County Down, at Down Cathedral. He is one of the three patron saints of Ireland.

People who have an Irish background celebrate the patron St. Patrick. The first recorded celebration in Canada was in 1759 when Irish soldiers serving with the British Army followed their conquest of New France, a French colony in North America. In Canada, St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Newfoundland / Labrador. Many cities across Canada host annual parades, including in Montreal, where the parade has been held every year since 1824.

The shamrock is one of many symbols of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. It is a registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland. The leaf comes from the clover plant, which grows amongst grass. The shamrock is also an Irish Catholic symbol of the Holy Trinity. The shamrock can sometimes be confused with a four-leaf clover, a varietal of the three-leaf clover, which is thought to bring good luck.

It’s common to celebrate the holiday with traditional dishes including Irish stew, and drinking copious amounts of drinks including stout and whisky. Most celebrations are themed around the colour green. Guests are expected to wear green clothes and most food and drink served are green.

If you are new to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, or looking for a new tradition, or are determined to stick to a strict healthy diet but want to partake in a cocktail, start with a protein packed Jacked Leprechaun cocktail. It tastes just like a Shamrock Milkshake from McDonald’s, only it’s 100 times better. It’ll help get you into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit too!

• 1 oz Stolichnaya Premium Vodka
• 1 oz Crème de Menthe
• 2 oz Vanilla Muscle MLK

Fill a martini shaker half full of ice. Add in Stolichnaya Premium Vodka, crème de menthe, and Vanilla Muscle MLK. Shake well for 20 seconds, until the ouside of the shaker begins to frost. Pour into a martini glass.