How Much Money Will Be Spent This St. Patrick’s Day? (A Lot)

We're just days away from St. Patrick's Day, the annual worldwide celebration of all things Irish, emerald-hued, and boozy. But, while you've probably attended the parades and consumed your fair share of Guinness, there are some things you may not know about St. Paddy's Day.  WalletHub has released an infographic containing facts and figures about the holiday, and the data offers some surprising insights. All told, $4.6 billion will be spent on St. Pat's Day this year, with the average reveler dropping $36.50 on the festivities. In the U.S., 52.3% of the population is expected to join in on the celebrations. (That may seem like a high number, but consider that 33 million Americans identify themselves as being of Irish ancestry — seven times the entire population of Ireland.) Of the total number of Americans who participate, 82.4% of them will do so while wearing green. Then, there's the beer. Ohhhh, the beer. Worldwide, some 12 million pints of Guinness will be consumed on Tuesday. It's also a big day for cabbage: Shipments of the vegetable reportedly rise 70% during the week of St. Patrick's Day. And, let's not forget about Hallmark, which produces no less than 100 different cards for the holiday, with the cheapest one retailing for $0.99. Might as well pick up a few, just in case you encounter any leprechauns — WalletHub advises that the present market value of a pot of gold is approximately $1.3 million, and we assume that leprechauns who receive Hallmark cards are more likely to share. The graphic also highlights some more somber statistics, including the fact that 75% of fatal car accidents on March 17 involve a driver whose blood-alcohol level is twice the legal limit. So, please don't drink and drive — on St. Patrick's Day, or ever. Peruse the complete infographic below, and for more on the economics of St. Patrick's Day, check out the original article on WalletHub.