Saint Patrick’s Day Trivia- Did You Know?
When it comes to Saint Patrick’s Day, are you up on your trivia? If you could use a brush up then keep reading …
-Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th every year.
-In Ireland it is a holy day and a national holiday.
-Although it is standard to wear the color green on Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States, the color was long regarded as unlucky in Ireland because it was the color favored by the Good People (also known as faeries). Faeries often stole from citizens, and folklore held that individuals who wore too much green would be stolen by the faeries (in particular children).
-Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide as a tribute to Irish culture and history.
-The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world was held in New York City on March 17, 1762.
-Although Dublin (the capital of Ireland) has a Saint Patrick’s Day parade every year, often touted as the Irish Mardi Gras, the one held in New York City is the largest.
Who was Saint Patrick and why is there a holiday named after him?
Saint Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the Irish people. St Patrick (Patricius in Latin) was born in Britain in 385 AD. When he was 16 years of age he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He escaped six years later at the age of 22 and went to Gaul (present day France). He eventually returned to his parents’ residence in Britain. It was here that he had a vision that he would preach Christianity to the Irish.
Saint Patrick studied theology for 14 years and then returned to Ireland in his mid-30s and began to spread the word of God to the Irish people. He built many churches throughout his years of service and helped many people by bringing Christian faith into their lives.
Legend has it that the shamrock became synonymous with this Irish holiday because Saint Patrick used it to help teach people about God. Looking very much like a clover with three leaves on each stem, he used it to describe the Trinity in that it was composed of three divine beings- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost).
Saint Patrick died on March 17, 461 AD, and is buried at Downpatrick in Northern Ireland.
