Today’s the day for the wearin’ of the green. Ever wonder who St. Patrick was and why there is a day dedicated to him? Who was he? What was special about him?
A search on the internet brings up all sorts of stories. I have listed a few interesting points I found on Wikipedia:
Saint Patrick (estimated AD 387 – AD 461), said to have been born Maewyn Succat, was a Roman Britain-born Christian missionary and is the patron saint of Ireland along with Brigid of Kildare and Columba.
When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken from his native Wales as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the church, he later returned to Ireland as a missionary in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and no link can be made between Patrick and any church.
By the eighth century he had become the patron saint of Ireland. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of ‘three divine persons in the one God’ (as opposed to the Arian belief that was popular in Patrick’s time). March 17, popularly known as St. Patrick’s Day, is believed to be his death date and is the date celebrated as his feast day.
On March 17, 1776, the day that British forces under General Sir William Howe evacuated Boston during the American Revolutionary War, the password of the day at General George Washington‘s Continental Army encampment was “Saint Patrick”. The date is observed as Evacuation Day, an official holiday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA. Massachusetts has the most Irish ancestry of the United States in terms of percentage of total population.
In any case, breathe in the crisp spring air, put on some green apparel, and celebrate the end of winter and the new beginnings of spring. Dance and clap, laugh and play and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! : )
