Culture: Saint Patrick's day

Saint Patrick's Day: The story behind it

St Patrick  is the patron saint of Ireland (and Nigeria). He was a Briton living during the time when Britain was a colony of the Roman Empire. He grew up in a Christian home and the family lived in Wales. When he was sixteen he was captured by pirates from across the Irish Sea and taken to Ireland. While working as a shepherd, he had a great spiritual experience and decided that he had to serve God in some special way. He returned to his native land and became a priest, travelling to Gaul (France) for some of his studies. Eventually, he returned to Ireland as a missionary.

St. Patrick's work in Ireland transformed the country. The legend says that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland and they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake was a revered pagan symbol, and perhaps this is a metaphor for the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland. He is said to have converted the country's druids. And he taught people about the mystery of the Trinity by using a shamrock leaf and made the shamrock the symbol of Ireland.

In Ireland, March 17th is a public holiday in celebration of his life and death. It is also a day when most people attend church. Shamrocks are sold on the preceding days and sent along with greeting cards to friends and family abroad. The day is usually regarded in Ireland as announcing the coming of spring. Dances and parties are held. The traditional dish is boiled bacon and cabbage.

The feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated all over the world wherever Irish exiles gather. Many wear a shamrock or a little favour showing a golden harp on a bit of green ribbon.