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The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.
Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a
pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish
marauders that raided his village. He was sent to herd sheep and swine. During this time, Patrick, in his pain and suffering found the one true God and to him he pledged his life.
Years later, and now a young man, Patrick had a dream. A vision that he followed and escaped to his family from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity. After many years of study to become a priest, Patrick dreamed of returning to Ireland. often in his dreams he could hear the voice of the Irish, "crying to thee, come hither and walk with us once more."
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the pagans that
had overrun the country. But his superiors instead appointed St.
Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed by Pope Celestine fulfilling his wish and commissioning him as second bishop to Ireland, to preach the gospel to the Celtic people. Patrick returned to Ireland and established churches and places of learning and worship.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact
upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but
escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing
monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and
churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish
country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time,
Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461.
That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.
The Serpents Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes and other venomous creatures from Ireland by banging on a drum. He did this so well that that it's said it is instant death for any such creature to touch Irish soil. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.
The Shamrock One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. When Patrick returned to Ireland to preach the gospel, he found that the pagan Irish could not understand the meaning of the trinity. By using a shamroc, in his sermons he was able to show them how the three leaves combined to make a single plant, to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. The Irish understood at once and the shamroc became the symbol of the land. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The leprechaun is said to be a very small sprite who sometimes live in farmhouses or wine cellars. They are called fairy cobblers because they make shoes elves (only one never a pair.) They are seen often by humans and are described as merry little fellows, gaily dressed in old-fashioned clothing. According to legend they possess a treasure. (usually a pot of gold) which a human can get if you can capture one. Even after they are captured you cannot take your eyes off of them for even one second or they will
disapear.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this
country, in Boston.
These are some links to some interesting
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