Who was St. Patrick?
Born sometime between 370 and 390 A.D. in Britain, Patrick was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was 16. During his six years of captivity, he worked as a shepherd. His religious visions led him to become a priest, and his missionary work converted the Irish to Christianity, according to the University of Kansas Medical Center Diversity Calendar. (See References 1) History of Observance St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1737, when the city of Boston held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade, says St-Patricks-Day.com. (See References 2) Many American communities now celebrate March 17 with parades, and some, like Chicago, even dye their river green for the event. Symbols The shamrock is a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, because St. Patrick was said to have used its three leaves to explain the holy Trinity to his converts, comparing them to the father, son and holy spirit. (See References 1) The leprechauns have become associated with St. Patrick’s Day b
