St. Patrick`s Day. Turn Yourself Green!

Saint Patrick’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, is observed in many countries on or around March 17 each year. This day is intended to commemorate Saint Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints. The holiday, originated in Ireland the Middle Ages, was spread to other parts of the world by Irish immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 21st century the interest in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations has really heated up in the area of commercial sales and since then St. Patrick’s Day became extremely popular in many counties. Even though it is not a federal holiday Saint Patrick’s Day is largely recognized and celebrated in the United States.

Celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day concentrate around Irish and Irish American culture and traditions that commonly include themed parties, Irish food and drinks. The use of the color green is predominant during this occasion: people often wear green clothing, consume food and drinks colored in green, water in public places is also dyed green in some cities. Other St. Patrick’s Day symbols include the shamrock or four-leaf clover, the flag of the Republic of Ireland, Irish brands of beer, leprechauns, pots of gold, harps, serpents and snakes. Large street parades feature St. Patrick’s Day in many cities: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Seattle, Houston, Boston, Pittsburgh, Denver, New Orleans and others.

St. Patrick, remembered on Saint Patrick’s Day, is famous for promoting Christianity in Ireland during the 5th century. His life is a wonderful example of firmness and commitment to his beliefs. He was born in Roman Britain but at a young age he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. Being a prisoner in Ireland, he had a dream in which he was instructed by God to escape from captivity. Some years later he returned home, entered the church and became a priest. After that he returned to Ireland and ministered Christianity in the north and west of the country. He died on March 17 around the year 493. A popular legend about St. Patrick says that he rid Ireland of snakes. However, there is also an opinion that there were no snakes in Ireland since the last ice age. So most likely, the “snakes” in this story symbolize pagan serpent gods and the druids who were banished from Ireland by St. Patrick. Another story tells that Saint Patrick used the shamrock while teaching the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. So Saint Patrick was a talented tutor who came to the idea of utilizing clear illustrations from nature to his teaching methods in order to simplify understanding of the religious concepts by his audience.

The shamrock or four-leaf clover, the most common symbol of St Patrick’s Day, is commonly associated with good luck. We wish all our readers good luck in work, study and all undertakings. Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!