St Patrick's Day facts: separating myth from reality On any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness, the famous Irish stout brand, are consumed around the world. But on St. Patrick's Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints, said Beth Davies Ryan, global corporate-relations director of Guinness. Blue not green is the colour originally associated with St Patrick. "St Patrick's Blue" is used on Ireland's Presidential Standard or flag, while the Irish Guards sport a plume of St Patrick's blue in their bearskins. The emphasis on green is thought to be linked to "wearing the Green," a symbol from the 18th century on, of sympathy with Irish independence. Until the 1970s, all pubs were shut in Ireland on St Patrick's Day, the sole venue selling drink being the annual dog show. Lenten fasting - and the obligation to abstain from meat - were lifted on the day, which most families would begin with Mass. According to legend, on the day of Judgement, while Christ judges all other nations, St Patrick will be the judge of the Irish. Since 1962, tons of green dye are tipped for St Patrick's Day into the Chicago river, although the quantity has reduced, for environmental reasons, from 100 to 40.