On March 17 each year, many people gather to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Many people remember the traditions of wearing the color green, putting on shamrocks, and watching parades, but what is the history behind these traditions and the holiday itself?
Saint Patrick’s Day marks the death of Saint Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Despite being known as the saint of Ireland, Patrick wasn’t actually Irish, being born in Roman Britain, now Wales, during the 4th century. At 16 years old, Patrick was captured by slavers, who brought him all the way to Ireland where he worked as a shepherd for six years. During this time, he began dedicating himself to God, praying each day and believing that God was speaking to him through visions he had. After hearing God tell him to escape, he was able to successfully do so, going back to Britain, where he trained to be a bishop. Eventually, he went back to Ireland after being called by God, beginning his goal of converting the people there from Paganism to Christianity. Throughout the rest of his life, he traveled throughout the country, preached and baptized thousands of people, and built hundreds of churches, turning a country where he was oppressed and imprisoned into a country of God.
Saint Patrick Day’s many traditions have their own roots in the history of the saint. Shamrocks, which are icons of the holiday, originated from a legend where Saint Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity to the Irish. The color green is often associated with the holiday due to Ireland’s lush landscape and the color of the shamrock.
Saint Patrick’s day should be a day that should be celebrated. Not only is it a unique holiday, with the parades and religious origins, it is a holiday that brings us good luck. That’s why we should Celebrate Saint Patrick’s day.
