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Many people diminish St. Patrick’s Day as amateur hour, “nothing more than a glorified frat party.” And while scientists, theologians, and scholars have yet to specify what exactly is wrong with that, the stigma remains.

However, it is not all binge drinking and puking (unfortunately).

If you are entering the shamrockified fray for the first time, you’ll do well to arm yourself with these few tidbits to prove you are no dilettante when it comes to the lore and custom of the “Old Country.”

Oh, and a shillelagh. You might want to arm yourself with a shillelagh too….