St Patrick’s Day is 17th March
It’s also known as: ‘Feast of Saint Patrick’ and the ‘Day of the Festival of Patrick’
Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary in Ireland in the fifth century.
He is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigit of Kildare and Columba.
When he was a teenager he lived in (Roman) Britain, but was captured by Irish pirates, taken to Ireland and enslaved. He worked as a shepherd, but escaped a few years later and returned home to his family.
After becoming a cleric he went back to Ireland. He had become the patron saint by the seventh century.
His death-date is supposed to be 17th March which is why that is the date celebrated by so many across the world.
None of the dates are certain.
The shamrock is associated with Patrick because he used it to illustrate the Christian Trinity. It is now the official flower of Ireland.
Legend says Patrick banished snakes from Ireland. However, it would seem the absence of snakes in Ireland was noted a century or so prior to his birth.
(And, anyway — what’s wrong with snakes?)
About 12% of Americans are of Irish ancestry, and more than one hundred Saint Patrick parades are held across the USA in March.
Apparently there are more Irish people living in the US than in Ireland.
The first New York City parade took place in 1762. This parade is the world’s oldest, and the largest in the US with over 150,000 participants. The route it takes is 1.5 miles long and is lined with three million or more spectators. It takes five hours to parade by.
The shortest St Patrick’s Day parade runs for ninety-eight feet in Arkansas.
While these are taking place in NYC and Arkansas, the Chicago River is dyed green; and Guinness sales double.
It’s good to wear green on St Patrick’s Day because, if you don’t, you’re liable to be pinched(!) It’s a good day for corned beef and cabbage, too.
There follows some greetings for your cards, a poem, and a video involving line-dancing sheep:
“May your days be many, and your troubles be few.”
‘St Patrick’s Day’ by Jean Blewett
There’s an Isle, a green Isle, set in the sea, Here’s to the Saint that blessed it! And here’s to the billows wild and free That for centuries have caressed it!
Here’s to the day when the men that roam Send longing eyes o’er the water! Here’s to the land that still spells home To each loyal son and daughter!
Here’s to old Ireland — fair, I ween, With the blue skies stretched above her! Here’s to her shamrock warm and green, And here’s to the hearts that love her!
Shaun the sheep and pals wish you every line-dancing, foot-tapping best thing, too!
“May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.”
“As you slide down the banister of life, May the splinters never point the wrong way.”
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