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Home < Holidays < St. Patricks Day
St. Patricks Day History and TraditionsMay your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go! |
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The History of St. Patrick's DayThe 17th of March is celebrated all over the world in the honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.The festive holiday has everyone wearing green (so they don't get pinched) and chatting of four leaf clovers, shamrocks, lucky leprechauns, and kissing the blarney stone. Saint Patrick was born near the end of the fourth century. His real name is believed to have been Maewyn Succat. When he was 16 years old, he was captured by pirates and forced to work as a slave for six years. He finally escaped from slavery and went to northern coast of Gaul, where he became a priest. His name name was changed to Patrick when was studying in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for twelve years. Later he returned to Ireland where he worked as a missionary. He had a winning personality that helped him convert people to Christianity. He used the shamrock, a three-leafed clover to help explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son, holy spirit). He was ordained as a Bishop of Ireland in 431. He preached the word of Christ extensively but established a number of churches, schools and colleges in the country. His profound influence on Ireland elevated him to the position of a national hero and the hero of various legends. One such legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. He then retired to County Down and died on March 17 in 461 AD. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. Ireland - the land of luck, leprechauns and legends has declared the day of its patron saint a national holiday. The first year St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in the United States was 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. On this day "everybody is Irish!" Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick's Day parades. |
St. Patrick's Day Traditions & Symbols
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Irish Customs for St. Patricks Day:
There are numerous customs associated with St. Patricks Day celebrated by the people of Irish descent in different parts of the world. Shamrock leaves are worn on the shoulder on this day to remember St. Patrick. People exchange Irish - Gaelic greetings. Traditional Irish Friendship Gift - Claddaugh Rings Men follow a ritual called the 'Drowning of the Shamrock'. A Shamrock leaf is dipped in whiskey and thrown over the left shoulder. Girls wear green ribbons and the boys wear a harp badge. The harp is an Irish symbol, found in ancient Irish carvings, Irish coins, flags and is also used for traditional decorations on St. Patrick's Day . People attend mass in the morning and St. Patrick Day parades are held in the afternoon. Shillelaghs are displayed and used for decorations. The Wearing of Green Did you ever wonder why we should wear green on St. Patricks Day? Well...you'll be pinched if you don't wear at least something green! Irish school children started this tradition. Green is the color of Ireland, the color of spring and the color of shamrocks. The luck o' the IrishWant to be lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Here's a few options to consider:1. Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green to avoid geting pinched. 3. Kiss the blarney stone. 4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can. 5. Have a green beer. 
Blarney Castle and Kissing of the Blarney Stone Blarney Castle is located in County Cork, Ireland. The Blarney stone is located in the southern tower wall. In order to kiss the stone one has to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support. It is beleived that the Blarney stone has magical properties. Any one who kisses the Blarney Stone is supposed to receive the gift the ability to speak convincingly. Leprechauns  A small gnome-like man with magical powers is the Irish counterpart of the fairy. He is beleived to possess a hidden pot of gold. Leprechauns are about 2 feet tall and dress like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun's is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by making shoes. If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you catch a Leprechaun you can force him to reveal where he has hidden his pot of gold. Be careful! If you take your eyes off him he will vanish and so wil your chances of finding his treasure.
Shamrocks  St. Patrick used the shamrock leaf to symbolize the Trinity during his mission to convert the Irish people to Christianity. Carved symbols of the shamrock leaf have been found on medieval Irish tombs and also on old copper coins. It is an ancient Irish belief that the shamrock leaf has magical properties. Today many people wear a shamrock to commemorate Saint Patrick's Day.
The Shillelagh Shillelagh was the name of an oak forest in Ireland's County Wicklow. A club made from an oak was called a 'Shillelagh'. The Shillelagh served as walking sticks and were also used for sport or weapons for fighting. Irish blessing: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go! |
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