History of the St.Patrick's Day

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History of the St.Patrick's Day
Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a
Roman-British army officer. He was growing up as
other kids in Britain. One day a band of pirates
landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy with
many others. Then they sold him into slavery in
Ireland. He was imprisoned there for 6 years. He
dreamed of having seen God. Finally, he did
escape and went to Britain and then to France.
There he joined a monastery and studied under St.
Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around
12 years in training. And when he became a bishop
he returned back to Ireland and tell his people
about God.
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History of the St.Patrick's Day
It is believed St. Patrick was born in the late
fourth century. His birth place is said to be
in either Scotland or Roman England. His real
name was probably Maewyn Succat, he was later
came to be familiar as Patrick. The legend says
he drove all the snakes out of Ireland. However,
post-glacial Ireland never actually had snakes.
And today, there are no snakes to be found!
St. Patrick
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History of the St.Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day is the national holiday of
Ireland and it is usually celebrated on March
17. Irish immigrants began observing the holiday
in Boston in 1737 and the first St. Patrick's Day
parade was held in New York City in 1766.
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Symbols of St.Patrick's Day
The Leprechaun is a small Irish fairy. He is
dressed like a shoemaker, with pointed shoes and
hat. He also wears a leather apron. Lephrechauns
are unfriendly little men who lives alone in the
forest, spending all of their time making shoes
and guarding their treasures.
If you catch a Leprechaun you can bully him into
telling you where his treasure is, but be sure
not to let him out of your sight or even blink -
or he'll disappear !
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Shamrock
The shamrock was chosen Ireland's national emblem
because of the legend that St. Patrick had used
it to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity The
Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, when trying
to convert polytheistic pagans to Christianity.
The Irish have considered shamrocks as good-luck
symbols since earliest times, and today people of
many other nationalities also believe they bring
good luck.
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Harp
The harp is an ancient musical instrument used in
Ireland for centuries. It is also a symbol of
Ireland.
Although it is not as recognizable as the
shamrock, the harp is a widely used symbol. It
appears on Irish coins, the presidential flag,
state seals, uniforms, and official documents.
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Shillelagh
Shillelagh was the name of an oak - forest in
County Wicklow, a staff made from an Oak was
often called a 'Shillelagh'. Little children
carry plastic Shillelaghs on this occasion.
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The Celtic Cross
Saint Patrick added the sun, a powerful Irish
symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what
is now called a Celtic cross, so that the new
symbol of Christianity would be more natural to
the Irish.
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Rainbow
Stories about the supposed treasure hidden by
leprechauns at the end of the rainbow have made
the rainbow a popular St. Patrick's Day symbol.
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Irish Music
Irish culture is marked by music. Next to the
harp are other Irish instruments like the fiddle,
the uilleann pipes, the bodhran and the tin
whistle. Irish music, played on these instruments
is primarily dance music (called ceili) that
you'll hear a lot of on St Patrick's Day and has
a fast tempo to dance jigs and reels to.
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Green color
Believe it or not, the color of St. Patrick was
not actually green, but blue! In the 19th
century, however, green became used as a symbol
for Ireland. In Ireland, there is plentiful rain
and mist, so is really green all year-round. The
beautiful green landscape was probably the
inspiration for the national color.It is said
that it also brings good luck, especially when
worn on St. Patrick's Day.
Many long years ago, playful Irish children began
the tradition of pinching people who forgot to
wear green on St. Patrick's Day and the tradition
is still practiced today.
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Leprechaun Shamrock Gold Rainbow Shillelagh harp
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St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by most people,
whether they are Irish or not, in big cities and
small towns with parades, "wearing of the green,"
music and songs, Irish food and drink, and
activities for kids.Some communities even go so
far as to dye rivers or streams green!
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St. Patrick's Day has become a holiday all
around the world and for one day out of the year
anyone can be Irish and join in the celebration.
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