St.
Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given
name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.
Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a
group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain,
bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert
the pagans to Christianity.
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed
St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name
earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several
times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set
up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in
AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.
Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon
from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some
people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's
Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.
One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick
used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of
wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly
celebrated in this country, in Boston.
Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick's Day
might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has
become the first green of spring.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick was born in Britain in the 4 th century. When he was sixteen, pagan raiders sold him as a slave. At the age of twenty-two, he
escaped and returned to Britain. Then, he started teaching people about God and Christianity. In 431, he became the Bishop of Ireland.
People believe that he died on March 17th 461.
People around Ireland celebrate St. Patrick’s Day because he is the patron saint of the country. There are parades in most towns and
villages. A week-long St. Patrick’s festival takes place in Dublin. It includes a firework display, open-air music, and a traditional
parade. St. Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland started in the late 19th century.
Green is the colour of Ireland. Some people say that you can find 40 shades of green in the Irish countryside. On St. Patrick’s Day
many people wear a bunch of shamrocks on their lapels or caps. In the past, girls also wore green ribbons in their hair.
Shamrock Leprechaun
- is green - has got a pot of gold
- usually has three leaves - lives in the forests of Ireland
- may bring you good luck - is very quick
- St. Patrick used it to teach about God - will give you his treasure if you catch him
