Who is Saint Patrick?

Saint Patrick (Naomh Pádraig in Gaelic) was a Christian missionary who since the seventh century has been the patron saint of Ireland along with Saint Brigid of Kildare and Columba. Patrick was born in Britain (it is thought Wales but his absolute origins are not fully known) In his youth he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. He entered the church, as his father and grandfather had before him, becoming a deacon and later a bishop. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary, working in the north and west of the island, and by using Monasteries as the center for his missionary work had great success in the conversion of Ireland. Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though post-glacial Ireland never actually had snakes. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God'. Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.

What is St. Patrick's Day?

March 17th , popularly known as St.Patrick's Day is believed to be his death date around 460 AD and is the date celebrated as his feast day.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast-on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots.

Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. St. Patrick's Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Approx one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin last year, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks show.