St. Patrick’s Day March 17th

What is St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick’s Day is the saint’s feast day It has evolved from a religious holiday to a worldwide celebration! Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia. In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.

St. Patrick’s Day Overview History of St. Patrick Symbols of Ireland Legends of Irish Culture St. Patrick’s Day Traditions Trivia Game!

The History of St. Patrick The patron saint of Ireland

Father was a Deacon in the Church Born in 387 AD in Scotland Father was a Deacon in the Church

Kidnapped by Pirates At age 16 years Taken to Ireland Sold as a Slave At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. Taken to Ireland Sold as a Slave

Patrick took care of sheep for 6 years He learned the language. After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice-which he believed to be God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. A voice spoke to him in a dream, “Your ship is waiting.”

The ship took Patrick to Britain He studied for 16 years in France to become a priest. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. Another dream, “Come and walk among us again.”

Converted many Irish to Christ He used the Shamrock as an example of the Trinity. Father Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. Jesus (Son) Holy Spirit One God

Patrick died on March 17, 460 AD.

Symbols of Ireland The shamrock, or “seamroy,” symbolizes the rebirth of spring. It was later adopted as a symbol of Irish nationalism. In fact the first written mention of this story did not appear until nearly a thousand years after Patrick's death. The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

The Celtic Cross A sun (from the Celts) super-imposed on a cross (from the Christians)

The Leprechaun The leprechaun, or “lobaircin” means “small-bodied fellow”. They were responsible for mending the shoes of other fairies in Celtic folktales. It was given its “cute” features and popularized in the United States by Walt Disney. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow.“ Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure. Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick or the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, a Catholic holy day. In 1959, Walt Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill & the Little People, which introduced America to a very different sort of leprechaun than the cantankerous little man of Irish folklore. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but has quickly evolved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St. Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.

The Flag of Ireland Green—people of the south Orange—people of the north White—symbolizes the peace that brings them together

Irish Dancing Dancing the Irish jig is famous worldwide!

Legends of Irish Culture Leprechauns are unfriendly and possess a pot of gold. They are also magic and can grant wishes.

If you find a Leprechaun, you can trick him into showing you his gold. The gold is hidden at the end of a rainbow.

But if you don’t watch the leprechaun very carefully… He and the gold will disappear!

Some say that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland… But St. Patrick never drove snakes from Ireland The story is a metaphor for driving paganism from the island

Four Leaf Clover If you find a four-leaf clover you will have good luck.

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions and Celebrations The first St. Patty’s day parade occurred when Irish soldiers in the British Army marched through New York City on March 17th, 1762. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.

Dye Rivers Green The Chicago River has been dyed green every year since 1962.

Traditional Food The rules of Lent are waived and people traditionally eat Irish bacon and cabbage. In the USA, Irish bacon has been replaced with corned beef for the annual feast. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

Wear Green! People wear green clothes in honor of Ireland.

If you don’t wear green… You can be pinched!

St. Patrick’s Day ~~Trivia Game~~

St. Patrick was the patron saint of Question #1 St. Patrick was the patron saint of

Answer #1: Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day marks the date of St. Patrick’s Question #2 St. Patrick’s Day marks the date of St. Patrick’s

Answer #2 Death

Question #3 The shamrock has leaves.

Answer #3 Three

Leprechauns are little make-believe Question #4 Leprechauns are little make-believe that live in Ireland.

Answer #4 fairies

Question #5 If you catch a leprechaun, you can make him tell you where he hides his

Answer #5 Gold

Leprechauns wear suits of the color Question #6 Leprechauns wear suits of the color

Answer #6 Green