Saint Patrick's Day

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Wales about AD 385. When he was 16 years old, he was captured from Wales by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. He lived in Ireland for six years, but eventually he was able to escape and return to his family. Later he returned to Ireland as a missionary and converted the country to Christianity. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. That is why the shamrock is now the symbol of Ireland.

Shamrock

Although there were many groups against him and in sipte of being arrested several times, he travelled through Ireland for thirty years, where he built monasteries, and set up schools and churches. Saint Patrick died on March 17th, 461. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated every 17th March. It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. It is also celebrated by Irish people in Britain and the United States. The 251st Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will take place in New York today. It is Saturday and the weather is fine in New York, so lots of people are expected to participate.