| The tradition of St. Patrick's Day began | | | | a monastery in France, after he escaped his |
| hundreds of years ago when a boy in Roman | | | | captivity. He was not religious at all when |
| England was captured and taken to Ireland as | | | | he was a child. |
| a captive where he found God. It is said | | | | |
| that St. Patrick could hear from the angels, | | | | - The first St. Paddy's day parade in America |
| and that he had raised people from the dead. | | | | was in 1737, 40 years before the |
| He was a very active missionary throughout | | | | Revolutionary War. |
| Ireland for 30 years, and that is why he is | | | | |
| called the patron saint of Ireland. There | | | | - The first day of spring is March 21st and |
| have been many legends attached to this | | | | this could be the reason St. Patrick's Day |
| saint, and they have lasted throughout the | | | | celebrations have caught on so big. |
| centuries. This holiday began as a Holy Day | | | | |
| in the Catholic Church, but over the years | | | | - Everyone turns Irish for a day - just wear |
| this religious Catholic saint's day has | | | | green, the sign of life. |
| turned into a more secular celebration of the | | | | |
| upcoming new spring. | | | | - Irish dishes include Corned beef and |
| | | | cabbage, Irish stew, Irish cream pie, Irish |
| Here are a few facts for St. Patrick's Day: | | | | soda bread, scones, Irish cheese bread, and |
| | | | all of these would be a good choice on St. |
| - March 17th, the day of celebration, is the | | | | Patrick's Day. |
| day of Patrick's death. | | | | |
| | | | There are many traditions and legends that |
| - St. Patrick, the patron saint of the Irish, | | | | have been passed down through the |
| was not from Ireland. | | | | generations, so even the barest of facts have |
| | | | gotten confused. It is not even certain |
| - Patrick was an old time missionary in | | | | exactly when Patrick was born, the actual |
| Ireland during the 4th century. | | | | date varies about 30 years in early 300 AD |
| | | | but the day of his death is certain, March |
| - He brought many people to conversion and | | | | 17, and that is the important day. |
| into the Christian religion. | | | | |
| | | | So whether you are celebrating the life of a |
| - The Shamrock, symbol of St. Patrick's Day, | | | | glorified Catholic saint or the oncoming |
| was a plant with three leaves that Patrick | | | | spring and all the new growth and new life |
| used to demonstrate to the pagans the trinity | | | | possibilities that a new life can encompass, |
| of God - Father, Son and Holy Ghost. | | | | it really doesn't matter. Wear something |
| | | | Green, grab a green hat, give someone a |
| - Maewyn is the name St. Patrick was born | | | | shamrock and join in the parade. Good luck |
| with. His name was changed by the Bishop in | | | | and Blessings are meant for all! |