Who is "Saint Patrick"?

Saint Patrick is the first bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland and is revered as the patron saint of Ireland because he baptised thousands of people and converted lots of women of the pagan ruling elite of this country.

Patrick was born in Britain in the fourth or fifth century A.D. and little is known about his childhood. According to his autobiography - Confessio -, when he was about sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates and taken as a slave to Ireland. He lived there for six years working as an animal herder before escaping and returning to his family. Years later, after becoming a cleric, he decided to return to Ireland to spread Christianity.

He worked in Ireland until his death which is thought to have happened on 17 March. Despite the fact he has not been canonised, he is considered a saint in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the Church of Ireland.

How do people celebrate "Saint Patrick's Day"?

Do you like green clothes, shamrocks and hats? How about dancing? These are ways people celebrate Saint Patrick's Day! They go to parades wearing top hats and green clothes. They also take part in a Céilithe, which is a social gathering that involves dancing and playing Gaelic folk music. Families get together to have a special dinner with a lot of Irish dishes.

Enjoy this sacred and also lucky moment of the year with some of the ideas that I selected for you. Just click on the buttons below and have fun!

Leprechaun-Approved Activities

Irish Recipes

Lucky Bookmarks

What do shamrocks have to do with Saint Patrick?

Shamrock is the Irish word for clover and it means, in fact, "young clover". Saint Patrick is said to have used it to explain the Christian Holy Trinity: God - Jesus - Holy Spirit.

Is it true that Saint Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland?

Ireland is famous for its lush, green hills and the absence of snakes. Is it due to faith and Saint Patrick's prayers? According to scientists, this is just a legend because these creatures never lived in post-glacial Ireland. However, people do believe that Saint Patrick banished them when he chased them into the sea after they attacked him during his fast on a mountain.

What do leprechauns have to do with Saint Patrick's Day?

There is no direct connection between Saint Patrick’s and leprechauns apart from the fact that they are both symbols of Ireland. Most people associate Saint Patrick’s Day with good deeds and they wear leprechaun costumes to resemble them and attract good luck.

Back

At this point, one must be asking the question: what is a leprechaun? A leprechaun is a mythical miniature man whose tales have been told in Irish oral stories for centuries. They were said to be shoemakers who stockpiled their profits in pots and hid them at the end of rainbows or scattered them around forests, mountains, or rocks. Initially, they were red creatures, but in the 20th century, everything Irish was associated with the green colour, including the leprechauns. Some people believed that leprechauns turned green to blend with grass and leaves as a form of camouflage.

People also believe they are mischievous creatures who like to pinch people who are walking around and may get their money. So, on Saint's Patrick's Day, people must wear green clothes in order to be invisible to them.