1. St. Patrick’s Day

2. March 17th of Every Year St. Patrick’s Day celebrated
People from all over the world…
Share symbols
Tell stories
Engage in Irish activities

3. Who really was St. Patrick
Was he even Irish?
When did he appear in history?
Why was he so important?
Why do people remember him now?
Why is March 17th so important?

4. St. Patrick Born in Great Britian to a rich family
He began going to school
Was not particularly that special of a kid

5. Well then why is he so important
When he was 16 he was kidnapped by irish raiders for ransom.
His parents would not pay.
He was sold into slavery in Ireland

6. Irish Slavery He stayed enslaved for the next 6 years
He was a herdsman for a flock of sheep (Sheppard)
He eventually escaped and returned to his family.

7. The Faith He was a catholic as a boy.
Over his 6 years in Irish slavery he grew a strong christian faith
He studied the Bible and learned more & more about the faith

8. His Vision One night alone in his bed he had a vision
In his vision he was directed to fast for 30 days.
He was then told to escape from his slave master during the night
There would be a ship waiting for him
200 miles He walked through Ireland
Had no map & knew no route (followed the direction of the Lord)

9. The Ship He reached the ship at night fall 4 days later.
He boarded the ship as was directed in his dreams.
The Captain stopped him.
Have you no money to pay the fare the captain asked patrick.
Patrick had no money
He was told “in no means try to board this ship”
So Patrick left the ship & headed for a hut.
He was stopped in the village where the hut was and told that the men of the ship were calling for him.

10. Back in Great Britian The ship docked in Great Britian
St. Patrick got out and found a Christian monastery that took him in.
He became a priest

11. Missions Everywhere he went Miracles happened.
He led many mission trips to try to convert people to Catholicism
Used the Shamrock to distinguish Holy Trinity
Everywhere he went Miracles happened.

12. Myths, Miracles & Legends
He banished snakes from an island
Rose people from the dead.
He converted countless people to Christianity

14. Story of his death
Died March 17th 461A.D. at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland.
Natural causes
Made a saint hundreds of years after his death.
Made a saint because of his Christian teachings around the world.

15. St. Patrick’s Day Symbols
Most do not have to do with St. Patrick’s day at all.
Three Leaf Clover
Four Leaf Clover
Leprechauns
Green
Luck of the Irish

16. Three Leaf (shamrock) Clover
The Way St. Patrick taught the Trinity on his Missions
Father
Son
Holy Spirit as one

17. Four Leaf (Shamrock) Clover
Used by St. Patrick?
Luck?
Not luck at all?
The four clovers represent…
Hope
Faith
Love
Happiness (some say luck)

18. Green Why do we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?
Because you will be pinched if you don’t
School children in Ireland started the tradition
Green was the color of the Irish flag & you were pinched if you did not have it on.

19. The Luck of the Irish Say your Prayers
May blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow & may trouble avoid you wherever you go
Wear green
Catch a Leprechaun

20. Legend of the Leprechaun
Leprechauns were crabby shoemakers
Fairies paid leprechauns to mend their shoes.
Paid them in gold coins
They collected them in large black pots
If you listen closely & hear their hammer you might be able to catch one.
If you catch one & threaten them they will lead you to which rainbow their treasure is behind but on the journey if you take your eye off of them they will vanish & you will be lost in the woods forever.