The History of St. Patrick's Day is full of both truth and embellishment. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated annually on March 17th. The day is in honor of Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, who was said to have introduced Christianity to the country.The History Channel: History of St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated for over a thousand years in Ireland as a religious holiday. The first St. Patrick's Day parade originated in New York City, where the tradition continues.The History Channel: History of St. Patrick's Day
Shamrocks and Snakes
According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. According to legend, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, this refers to the symbol of the serpent in ancient Druidism; meaning that St. Patrick banished paganism from Ireland.The History Channel: History of St. Patrick's Day
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Celebrated every March 17th
-
Fact:
St. Patrick is thought to have died around March 17, 460 ADThe History Channel: Who Was St. Patrick?
-
Fact:
St. Patrick's Day has been observed in Ireland for more than a thousand yearsThe History Channel: History of St. Patrick's Day
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Pubs were closed on St. Patrick's day until the 1970sThe History Channel: History of St. Patrick's Day
-
Fact:
The first St Patrick's Day parade took place in the United States
-
Fact:
Shamrocks were sacred to the ancient DruidsThe History Channel: Symbols and Traditions
-
Fact:
St. Patrick was said to have taught about the Holy Trinity using the shamrock
-
Fact:
When Ireland was conquered by the English, the Irish were forbidden to speak in their language so Irish music became an important way of passing on traditionThe History Channel: Symbols and Traditions
-
Fact:
According to legend, St. Patrick was said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland; there were never snakes in IrelandThe History Channel: Symbols and Traditions
-
Fact:
The snake myth originates from the story of St. Patrick's eradication paganism from IrelandThe History Channel: Symbols and Traditions
