Why Saint Patrick's Day is Celebrated.

Many people probably believe that Saint Patrick was born and raised in Ireland.That is not true at all. He was in fact born in England. His parents were wealthy and his father was a christian deacon. When he was 16 yrs. old he was taken captive by a group of raiders attacking his family's estate. They took him to Ireland where he spent  6 yrs. there as a captive. During that time he was lonely because of the kind of work he did.He worked outdoors and was away from people most of the time. He turned to religion for comfort and became a devout christian.

He believed he had heard God speaking to him in a dream telling him to leave Ireland.When he got back to England he had another dream from an angel telling him to go back to Ireland but this time as a missionary.He soon started religious training  after that but the training lasted 15 yrs.After becoming a priest his mission was to preach to the Irish Christians and convert the ones who are not.When he arrived most of the Irish practiced a nature based pagan religion. He decided to incorporate Irish rituals into his christian lessons. One example of this is that he superimposed a sun onto the christian cross because the sun is a powerful Irish symbol.That cross is now called a Celtic Cross.According to an old legend Patrick used the three leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity.

By the seventh Century he was already the patron saint of Ireland. He died on March 17 around the year 493.Today Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17th of March. It is celebrated in Ireland and all over various parts of the World. At first Saint Patrick's day was celebrated as a holy day in Ireland and over the years became a festival as well.In Ireland the day is celebrated with a week long tradition of festivities. Here in America the day is celebrated with corned beef and cabbage,parades,and lots of drinking. People usually do not drink more on that day just because it is Saint Patrick's day.It is first a holy day and feast in Ireland.People in Ireland usually eat roast chicken or pink bacon on that day.Corned beef and cabbage is an American tradition.

If you are celebrating Saint Patrick's day this year do not drink and drive. Once again thank you for taking time to read my blog.Come back soon to check out my new post.