What is St. Patricks Day a celebration of?
PATRICK’S EARLY LIFE St. Patrick (real name: Patricius Magonus Sucatus) was born in Britain to a wealthy family near the end of the fourth century. He probably died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although Patrick’s parents were Christians, and his father was a church official, they do not seem to have taken their faith too seriously. When Patrick was about sixteen years old, he was taken prisoner by Irish raiders and became a slave. For six years, he was a shepherd in Ireland, before escaping to Britain. His escape was more than it seemed: he had heard a voice from God. Over the next 15 years, Patrick prepared himself to serve God wherever He would send him, and studied at a monastery in France. It must have been a shock when God told him to go back to Ireland, but Patrick didn’t hesitate, even though his superiors wanted him to take up a position as bishop. PATRICK IN IRELAND There were a few Christians in Ireland before Patrick came, but they were persecuted. Most Irish were believers
Celebration is part of St. Patrick’s Day, but it is observed in honor of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. Within the Christian calendar Patrick has long been remembered with fondness. This began as early as the ninth century AD with the Feast of St Patrick’s “falling asleep” – in other words his passing on 17 March. The Book of Armagh included a note directing all monasteries and churches in Ireland to honour the memory of the saint by the celebration, during three days and three nights in mid-spring. Hence St. Patrick’s Day began. Who was St. Patrick? (see http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/4338). The Americanized St. Patrick’s Day is more or less a day to celebrate one’s Irish Heritage. Or if one isn’t Irish, just to join the fun. As the text below states, it was intended to be a religious holiday in Ireland. It is actually a National Holiday in Ireland which somebody here already mentioned. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17. The Irish have observed this day as
According to wikipedia, the supposed history behind St. Patrick’s Day is as follows… “The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Roman Britain 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. During his captivity, he became closer to God. He escaped 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. He wished to return to Ireland and to convert the native pagans to Christianity, but his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. However, two years later Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having ad
St Patrick’s Day is a Saint’s day, in fact virtually every day is the day of one Saint or another. A majority of people have no religious belief at all and so have no reason to celebrate any Saint’s days. However, St Patrick is the Patron saint of Ireland and Ireland is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, so the Irish quite naturally celebrate the day of their Patron Saint. A lot of people emigrated from Ireland to the United States and took the tradition with them and it grew from there, in the same way that celebrating Christmas and Easter has grown, even among people with no particular faith.
