St Patrick day is celebrated every year on March 17, the date of his death.
Patrick was an aristocrat (a broad term that usually refers to people that are of a particular social order considered the highest social class of that society.)
He actually wasn't born in Ireland.
He was born in a village called Bannavem Taberniae, which doesn't exist on any British maps today.
Patrick grew up in a Christian family, but as a young boy didn't show much interest in his religion.
At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped for 6 years by Irish raiders. There they had him working as a sheep herder. Being lonely and scared, this made Patrick turn to his religion for comfort.
Patrick is said to have heard the voice of God telling him to leave Ireland. He walked 200 miles to the Ireland coast and took passage on a ship to Britain and his family. But he couldn't stop thinking of Ireland.
Patrick is said to have had a dream that an angel came to him, telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. After studying for years, he became a Priest and returned. He spent 40 years there spreading his faith among Celtic Pagans.
He became a hero of Ireland after his death.
According to an Irish myth he drove all the snakes from Ireland and cleared it from Paganism.
The Celebration of St Patrick's day:
Patrick is said to have used the Shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) As a result, 18th century people of Ireland began wearing Shamrocks on March 17 to symbolize their Irish Christian pride. Later they began to wear green clothing as well.
Irish parade tradition actually started in America. It started after the great potato famine of the 1840s which sent thousands of Irish to America via NY, Boston and other cities.
The first parade on record was in 1762 when a group of Irish soldiers serving with the British marched a few blocks to a tavern in lower Manhattan. Today, millions spectate one of the largest parades in NYC every year to celebrate the day and the saint.
Information source : www.history.com
Photo source: Pixabay
(repost)
Much of this I never knew, so I found it all really interesting. The clover was a great way to illustrate the trinity.
ReplyDeleteI agree Liz
DeleteI didn't realize that about the clover, saying that I've learnt a lot more too, thanks for sharing xx
ReplyDeleteI love that the first parade was a march to a tavern. LOL Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure! lol
DeleteI am part Irish, but never knew much about St. Patrick's Day. It's fun to learn this and I'm going to share with my son.
ReplyDeleteIts alwaya fun to learn the real facts about things we celebrate. Who knew St. Paddy wasnt really Irish!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome information and history of St. Patrick's Day. I find this so interesting indeed and didn't know a lot of it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and informative post. I learned a few things about St Patricks Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I read this! I didn't know some of these facts! I'm glad he came back to religion for comfort- that's what it is there for and he stayed!!
ReplyDeleteWonder why they use this day for drinking?
ReplyDeleteI don't know Maria. I guess it is just a way some people celebrate. My son is in Ireland right now. He comes home tomorrow. I will have to find out how they celebrate there. I know they have a parade because he was at one earlier.
Delete