March 17 St. Patrick’s Day

March 17 observed is St. Patrick’s Day; St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture. It particularly remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints. St Patrick is who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century.

Many people wear an item of green clothing on the day. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, especially by Irish communities and organizations. On this occasion some people plan a pilgrimage to St Patrick’s Purgatory.

Many restaurants and pubs offer Irish food or drink, which include: Irish brown bread. Corned beef and cabbage and Beef and Guinness pie. Irish cream chocolate mousse cake, Irish coffee. Irish potato champ, also known as poundies, cally or pandy, Irish stew., Irish potato soup.

Background

St Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. He is said to have died on March 17 in or around the year 493. He grew up in Roman Britain, but was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a young adult. After some years he returned to his family and entered the church, like his father and grandfather before him. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and worked in the north and west of the country.

According to popular legend, St Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. However, it is thought that there have been no snakes in Ireland since the last ice age. The "snakes" that St Patrick banished from Ireland, may refer to the druids or pagan worshipers of snake or serpent gods. He is said to be buried under Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Ireland. Ireland’s other patron saints are St Brigid and St Columba.

Symbols

St Patrick's Day symbol is the shamrock. The shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant and a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Many people choose to wear the color green and the flag of the Republic of Ireland is often seen in St Patrick’s Day parades around the world. Irish brands of drinks are popular at St Patrick’s Day events.

Religious symbols are including snakes and serpents, as well as the Celtic cross. Some say that Saint Patrick added the Sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross. Other Irish-related symbols seen on St Patrick’s Day include the harp, which was used in Ireland for centuries, as well as a mythological creature known as the leprechaun and a pot of gold that the leprechaun keeps hidden.