St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's day is the 17th March!
It is internationally known as a day for Irish people and those of Irish heritage to celebrate their culture with 'craic agus ceol' (fun and music in Irish) and, of course, plenty of drinking.
But do you know where St. Patrick's day first originated from?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
When Patrick was 16 years old he was kidnapped from his home in Great Britain and taken to Ireland to work as a slave in the Slemish mountains in Antrim.
Eventually, he escaped after six years and went home to be reunited with his family and become a cleric.
During his time in Ireland it was said his faith and connection with god grew strong and so prayed that the Irish would also convert and have faith. As years passed he said he was continually tormented by the "voice of the Irish" who asked Patrick to return to them! And so he did.
Saint Patrick was an Archbishop and is most known for driving the 'snakes' from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland but the snake symbols were common and often worshipped in pagan Ireland. So, driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice; while laying down the foundations for the catholic church.
Many people ask 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans, i.e. the father, the son and the holy spirit.
Happy St. Patrick's day (for next week)!! Enjoy :)
Niamh
Irish Ambassador
It is internationally known as a day for Irish people and those of Irish heritage to celebrate their culture with 'craic agus ceol' (fun and music in Irish) and, of course, plenty of drinking.
But do you know where St. Patrick's day first originated from?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
When Patrick was 16 years old he was kidnapped from his home in Great Britain and taken to Ireland to work as a slave in the Slemish mountains in Antrim.
Eventually, he escaped after six years and went home to be reunited with his family and become a cleric.
During his time in Ireland it was said his faith and connection with god grew strong and so prayed that the Irish would also convert and have faith. As years passed he said he was continually tormented by the "voice of the Irish" who asked Patrick to return to them! And so he did.
Saint Patrick was an Archbishop and is most known for driving the 'snakes' from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland but the snake symbols were common and often worshipped in pagan Ireland. So, driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice; while laying down the foundations for the catholic church.
He died on the 17th March and so we celebrate his life and work on this date each year.
Many people ask 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans, i.e. the father, the son and the holy spirit.
Happy St. Patrick's day (for next week)!! Enjoy :)
Niamh
Irish Ambassador
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