The
Origin of St. Patrick's Day
St.
Patrick was born as Maewyn in Wales around 385 A.D.
At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by bandits
and sold into slavery in Ireland, where he lived for
six years, herding sheep and developing a strong faith
in God. Upon his escape to Gaul he studied in a monastery
for many years, entered the priesthood and later was
appointed as second bishop to Irelandhis desire
was to return to Ireland and to convert the people
there to the Christian faith, a tumultuous mission
that lasted 30 years.
St.
Patrick did manage to convert thousands of Irish to
Christianity; he founded hundreds of churches and,
according to lore, "drove the snakes out of Ireland,"
an act symbolizing the victory of the Christian faith
over pagan rituals. In order to explain the idea of
the holy trinity to local tribesmen, he used the three-leaf
shamrock, its green color signifying renewal and the
coming of spring after a long period of winter and
"pagan" darkness.
Interestingly,
the first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not
in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers
serving in the English military marched through New
York City on March 17, 1762. |