ST PATRICK'S DAY

                      

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated March 17th. St. Patrick of Ireland, along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, is one of the world's most popular saints.  He is celebrated on this day by Irish followers all round the world. He was born around the year 385 A.C. in  Scotland, of Roman parents. Around the age of 14, he was captured during a raid and taken to Ireland as a slave to take care of and herd sheep. Ireland was a pagan land at this time, in the hands of the Druids so Patrick learned the customs and language of these people. During this time as a slave, he turned to God in prayer. His captivity lasted until he was twenty years old, when he was able to escape after dreaming that God told him he had to leave and go to the coast. There he found some sailors who helped him return to Britain, where he was able to join his family. After a time he had another dream, in which the people of Ireland called to him to return there and tell them about God. So he decided to study to be a priest, and was ordained by a bishop. When he himself became a bishop, he was sent to Ireland, where he soon gathered a group of followers. He taught, preached and built churches there for thirty years. Patrick used a shamrock, which is a small plant with three leaves, to explain the Holy Trinity. This shamrock became the national symbol. He was also supposed to have performed the miracle of making all snakes leave Ireland. That is why he is often shown with snakes around him, although experts believe it is a metaphor which represents the conversion of the pagans. After years of living in poor conditions and suffering, he died on March 17th. Irish people all around the world commemorate this day with different activities, such as wearing green clothes and accessories, and drinking beer.