Today, 17 March, is Saint Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and all over the world, especially in countries where there are Irish people and those of Irish descent. Essay Writer joins you our Irish students and your friends in the celebration. As part of the festivities, let us retell St Patrick’s life story and his contribution to Irish culture.Today, 17 March, is Saint Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and all over the world, especially in countries where there are Irish people and those of Irish descent. Essay Writer joins you our Irish students and your friends in the celebration. As part of the festivities, let us retell St Patrick’s life story and his contribution to Irish culture.
What is St Patrick’s Day? Why 17 March?
St Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration. It is commemorated every 17 March, the date most observed over the years as the death of Saint Patrick. It is a commemoration of St Patrick and the start of Christianity in Ireland in the fifth century. As such event happened early in the history of the country, it formed much of their identity and, thus, St Patrick’s day is also a celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
Why is St Patrick’s Day celebrated?
St Patrick’s Day is a commemoration of the saint and his significance to the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century.
How do people celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador of Canada and Montserrat which is a British Overseas Territory. it is noted to be celebrated in more countries than any other national festival. It is widely celebrated by Irish people around the world most notably in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
Celebrations of St Patrick’s Day involve public parades and festivals, social gatherings called Cèilidh which involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing, and wearing of green (colour of shamrock) attire or shamrocks which are young sprig of clover. The shamrock is a symbol of Ireland because of St Patrick’s use of it as a symbol of faith in the Christian Holy Trinity.
During the day, Christians attend church services and are not strictly required to observe the Lenten restrictions pertaining to fasting and abstinence. The tradition of drinking the Irish dry dark beer called stout, popularly brewed by Guinness Anchor Berhad.
Who was St Patrick?
Saint Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland and known as the “Apostle of Ireland.” He lived from around 385 to 461. His highest position was as Bishop of Ireland. He was born in what was then called Roman Britain. According to documents attributed as written by St Patrick himself called “Confessio of Patrick” and “Declaration,” he was abducted by Irish pirates in Great Britain, right from his home at age 16.
He was taken by his abductors to Ireland and made a slave looking after animals for six years. In which time he said he “found God.” He related that God told him to escape and go to the coast where a ship is waiting for him and take him home. He was able to escape and return to his family. He became a cleric and, after which, he returned to northern and western Ireland. His Declaration reads that he returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. It indicated that he dedicated many years to evangelising in the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands.
In his apostolic mission, he collided against the druids who are members of the educated, professional class among the Celtic peoples of Gaul, Britain and Ireland most known among them are religious speakers, with some being law-speakers, poets and doctors. This is eventually turned into an allegory in which he drove “snakes” out of Ireland. It is said that this is the origin of why there are no snakes in Ireland. In the last years of his life, he served as bishop. He was revered as the patron saint of Ireland starting the seventh century.
Let’s Celebrate St Patrick’s Day!
We at Essay Writer hope that, through this blog post, we have helped you our students (both Irish and not) gain knowledge or review your knowledge about St Patrick and his role in Irish culture.