Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British
Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland.
Known as the
"Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland.
Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. As a boy of
fourteen he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave
to herd and tend sheep. He learned the language and practices of the people who
held him.
Patrick`s
captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from
God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found
some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.
After his
religious training and his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with
a dual mission: to care for the Christians already living in Ireland and to
begin to convert the non-Christians.
Nowadays, St.
Patrick is a patriotic symbol. The celebrations on St. Patrick`s Day include
many traditions that have endured through time because of their strong link
either with religion or national identity.
St. Patrick`s Day
is celebrated each year on March 17th., the anniversary of his death. In
Ireland, Saint Patrick`s Day is both, a holy day and a national holiday. Saint
Patrick`s Day is celebrated in countries around the world. People with Irish
heritage remind themselves of their home country by wearing green and taking
part in the festivities. Saint Patrick`s Day is usually celebrated with a
parade.
