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All About St. Patrick's Day
Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Britain at the end of the 4th century. When he was sixteen, he was taken prisoner by Irish raiders who were attacking his family home. He was then taken to Ireland for the next six years and held captive. While in Ireland, he worked as a shepherd, becoming a devout Christian. He escaped Ireland and fled to Britain, where he was trained as a priest. Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity.
The History of St. Patrick’s Day
The Irish have observed March 17th as a religious holiday for thousands of years, and it marks the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the 5th century. Having first taken place in Ireland, the celebration came to American in 1762 when Irish soldiers marched through New York City. The St. Patrick’s parade was born and continued in many cities throughout the U.S.
What does Ireland think of St. Patrick’s Day?
Traditionally a religious holiday, in 1995 Ireland began to use St. Patrick’s day as a marketing tool to drive tourism. Celebrations in Dublin in recent years have reached close to a million people, marked my parades, concerts, and fireworks.
Why the Shamrock?
The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland that symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 1600’s, the shamrock came to represent the Irish. It was worn as a sign of pride and heritage.
Why the Leprechaun?
Many Celtics believed in fairies, thought of as tiny men and women with magical power. They were know for being tricky, and they used this skill to protect a fabled treasure. Leprechaun had nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day until Disney released a movie called “Darby O’Gill & the Little People in the late 1950’s. The movie character was a happy little soul, and became associated with the Irish culture and St. Patrick’s Day.
