ST PATRICK’S DAY

ST PATRICK’S DAY St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, as a religious feast day and the anniversary of the saint’s death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.

History of St Patrick Patrick was born in Britain in the year 387. When he was 16, he was captured by pagan Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland. He spent his teen years and time alone as a shepherd to tend to his master's sheep. During this time, his spirituality awakened and his belief in God became strong.

He became a priest and, in 432, he was made a bishop by Pope Celestine, who sent him on a mission back to Ireland. Later on, he won favour with the local kings. He spent the next 28 years travelling across the countryside to spread the word of God. He could do this easily as he was fluent with the Celtic language. He succeeded in converting almost the entire population of the island. Although Patrick was born British, he considered himself Irish because it was in Ireland that he discovered God. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Legend says St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to convert Irish people to Christianity. The shamrock was also a sacred plant among the Druids. Shamrock is the national flower of Ireland. Many Irish people wear a shamrock on St. Patrick's Day, and in modern times it has been appropriated by secular institutions as a symbol for the Irish. However, the shamrock is not the official Irish national emblem, the harp having that honour

Another legend Patrick is most known for is driving the snakes from Ireland. He stood on a hill and used a wooden staff to drive the snakes into the sea and banished them forever from Ireland. One snake resisted. Patrick then tricked it into entering a small box and cast it into the sea. It is true that Ireland has no snakes. However, the snake as a celtic symbol does exist, representing the process of creation, rebirth, fertility and healing, that is, the cyclical nature of life.

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH If you want to have the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick's Day, follow this advice: 1. Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green (so you don't get pinched!!). 3. Kiss the blarney stone. 4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can.

1. A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER Although clovers are most often found in nature with three leaves, rare four-leaf clovers do exist. Finding one is thought to bring someone extreme luck. Four-leaf clovers have no religious allusions associated with them. It is believed that each leaf of a four-leaf clover represents something different: first is hope, the second is faith, the third is love, and the fourth is happiness.

2. WEAR GREEN So why do we all wear green? Probably because you'll be pinched if you don't! Green is the color of spring, the shamrock, and is connected with hope and nature. Green appears in the official tri-color country flag, adopted in 1919. In addition to that, Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle" due to the lush natural greenery found on the island. When people say that 'Ireland has 40 shades of green,' they are right!

3. KISS THE BLARNEY STONE The Blarney Stone is a block of stone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney about 8 km from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone gives the kisser with the gift of the gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the Stone and tour the castle and its gardens. The word blarney has come to mean clever, flattering, or coaxing talk.

4. CATCH A LEPRECHAUN Just what does a mythical leprechaun look like and why are they so special? A leprechaun looks like a little old man and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun's personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by mending the shoes of Irish fairies. Pronunciation: /ˈleprəkɔːn/

The legend is that the fairies pay the leprechauns for their work with golden coins, which the "little people" collect in large pots--the famous "pots of gold" often associated with leprechauns. If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he's hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him.

A popular belief is that you may find a leprechaun and his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Some of the Leprechauns mythical power's include hypnotism or trickery that confuses their target either allowing the Leprechaun to escape or just to play tricks on unsuspecting victims.

LET’S ALL BE IRISH FOR ONE DAY Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by non-Irish people (usually in Australia and North America). Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the colour green. The St. Patrick's Day parade was first held in Boston in 1761. Today, the New York parade is the largest, typically drawing two million spectators and 150,000 marchers. As the saying goes: EVERYONE’S IRISH ON ST PATRICK’S DAY!!! The Chicago River is dyed green on St Patrick’s Day

Happy St Patrick's Day! Let’s paint this year the school green on the happiest day it has ever seen                                  Happy St Patrick's Day!

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Happy St Patrick's Day Happy St Patrick's Day