Saint Patrick's day

Saint Patrick’s Day, commonly known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious holiday. It is celebrated on the 17th of March every year in Ireland and by Irish communities around the world. The day honors the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, and according to legend, driving out snakes from the country. It has become one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world, with parades, wearing green, singing irish songs, and traditional Irish foods and a few pints. In this blog, we will discuss the history and significance of Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland. We will also explore the legends associated with it.

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History of Saint Patrick’s day Ireland

Saint Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ireland for over a thousand years. The day marks the death of Saint Patrick, who is believed to have died on March 17th in the year 461 AD. Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He was born in Britain in the late 4th century. Laterwas kidnapped by Irish raiders when he was sixteen years old. He was taken to Ireland and forced to work as a shepherd for six years. During this time, he became deeply religious and began to pray regularly.

One night, he had a vision in which he was told to escape from Ireland and return to his home in Britain. St. Patrick managed to escape and eventually made his way back to Britain, where he became a priest. He then had another vision in which he was told to return to Ireland and convert the people to Christianity. He returned to Ireland as a missionary and spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel.

Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. He used the three leaves to represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which are three distinct but inseparable persons in the Christian faith. The shamrock has become a symbol of Ireland and is used extensively on Saint Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s day celebrations Ireland. Shamrock. Photo credit: Pixabay.com

The Significance of Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland

Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland, and it is celebrated by people of all ages and backgrounds. The day is a time for Irish people to celebrate their culture, history, and identity. It is a day when people come together to enjoy traditional Irish foods and drinks, listen to Irish music. Most importantly people attend parades and wear shamrocks and green outfits.

Saint Patrick’s day Ireland, O’Connell street, Dublin

What about those fasting for Lent at this time?

According to history the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day. This encourages the tradition of alcohol consumption.

One of the most important aspects of Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland is the religious significance of the day. It is a time for people to reflect on the life and legacy of Saint Patrick and to honor his contribution to Irish society. It is also a time for people to attend church services and to pray, although in reality very few people go to church on St. Patrick’s day.

Saint Patrick’s day celebrations and love for Ireland

St. Patrick’s day is also a time for people to share their love of Ireland with others and to showcase the best that the country has to offer. Many visitors take advantage of this time to experience “being Irish”.

Saint Patrick’s day in Ireland and the legends associated with it

Saint Patrick’s day in Ireland, a parade in Dublin

1. Snakes

There are many legends associated with Saint Patrick’s day in Ireland. One of the most famous legends is the story of how Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. According to the legend, Saint Patrick used his staff to chase all the snakes out of Ireland and into the sea, where they all drowned. While this story is widely believed in Ireland, it is unlikely to be true, as there is no evidence that Ireland ever had any snakes.

2. Shamrock

Another popular legend associated with Saint Patrick’s Day is the story of how Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. According to the legend, Saint Patrick was preaching to a group of Irish people when he used the plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity.

3. Croagh Patrick

This legend tells of how Saint Patrick spent 40 days of lent fasting and praying on Croagh Patrick. He was harassed by black birds during that time but he kept on praying. During this time, he had visions of the afterlife, which led him to preach about the importance of repentance and penance.

4. Celtic cross

The Cross of Saint Patrick. This legend tells of Saint Patrick using a Celtic cross to represent the merging of Christianity and the Celtic religion. The cross features a circle in the center, which represents the sun. This was used to convert the pagan Irish people to Christianity.

Saint Patrick day parades

There are various parades across the country including in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Smaller towns like Navan also have their own celebrations. The Dublin parade is said to be the biggest in Ireland. It can be watched from Parnell Street, O’Connell Street, Westmoreland Street, Dame street, Lord Edward St, and St. Nichols st. It is also televised.

The parade starts at 12:00pm but for those who wish to attend the parade, it can be hard to get a good view-point owing to the large crowds who come to witness the parade. The trick is to arrive at least half an hour before.

Conclusion

We have been to various parades in Ireland including in Clonmel, Kilkenny, Swords, Dunboyne and Dublin and all never dissapoint. It is such good craic and should be on everyone’s bucket list.