Saint Patrick's Day Facts - Did You Know?

ST. PATRICK'S DAY St. Patrick & A Brief History & Fun Facts St. Patrick -395 A.D. St. Patrick was born in Great Britain, near Kilpatrick, Scotland. 411 A.D. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped, enslaved, and sent to the mountainous countryside of Ireland to work tending sheep 415 A.D. He was able to escape his captors, following a dream in which God told him to flee to the coast, where he would find a ship to return to Great Britain. Upon St. Patrick's return to Great Britain he had a second dream, this time featuring the people of Ireland, begging him to come back to them. In response to this dream, St. Patrick began studying for the priesthood, eventually becoming a bishop for the Catholic Church. 433 A.D. St Patrick returned to Ireland as to convert the Irish to Christianity. March 17, 461 A.D St. Patrick died in Ireland, after almost 30 years of missionary work. U.K, Ireland St. Patrick was largely forgotten after his death. It wasn't until after centuries of myth's surrounding St. Patrick's life and works that he was recognized as and named Ireland's patron saint. St. Patrick's Day March 17th March 17, St. Patrick's Day, is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated around the world by millions. It is a celebration of St. Patrick, the most widely acknowledged patron saint of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. 17th century Secularism It became an official feast day for the Catholic church in the Over the centuries it has become more secular, beginning of the 17th century. focusing on the celebration of Irish ancestry and culture St. Patrick's day is now celebrated around the world by parades and festivals March 17, 1762 The first St. Patrick's day parade in New York City The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City on March 17, 1762, in which Irish soldiers serving in the English NY military took to the streets to celebrate their Irish roots with marching and music The shamrock originated from St. fun facts Patrick's missionary work in Ireland, which used the shamrock to explain Christianity's Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland. Blue was the original color associated with St. Patrick. Green slowly blue replaced blue as the St. Patrick's Day color, with green ribbons and shamrock's worn in celebration as early as the 17th century Lime green chrysanthemums are used for parades and celebrations. In 1962 a portion of the Chicago River was dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and has continued ever since More than 100 St. Patrick's Day parades are held in the United States, the largest celebrations taking place in New York City and Boston. The story of St. Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland is an old myth started by monks, and most likely symbolizes St. Patrick driving the Pagan beliefs out of Ireland and bringing Christianity. The secular celebration of Irish culture on St. Patrick's Day originated in the United States and was little more then a minor religious holiday up until the 1970's in Ireland St. Patrick's Day's use of the leprechaun has no direct relation- ship to St. Patrick and actually originated from a 1959 Walt Disney movie featuring a very Americanized version of the Irish folklore characters. This American leprechaun quickly evolved into a highly recognizable St. Patrick's Day symbol. King Brian from Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) Presented by: Sources: http://www.history.com http://www.wikipedia.com http://www.huffingtonpost.com http://www.chicagotribune.com http://www.nationalgeographic.com WINDY CITY NOVELTIES