-->

• Saint Patrick is the most popular and well-known of the three patron saints of Ireland. He was kidnapped as a teen from Roman Britain and taken to Ireland, then sold as a slave. Patrick said that God told him in a dream to escape by walking 200 miles to a boat headed for England.

  St. Patrick's Day is observed on March 17th, each year. The observance was originally a religious holiday in Ireland, but has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture around the world.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: ca. 373-387
  2. Birthplace: Kilpatrick, Scotland
  3. Death: ca. 461-493
  4. Place of death: Saul
  5. Much debate over the actual dates of events in Patrick's life
  6. Believed by some to be buried in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
  7. Feast day: March 17 (date of death)
  8. Kidnapped at 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave
  9. Kept his master's flocks for 6 years
  10. Escaped back to England by boat around 20 years of age
  11. Returned to Ireland as a missionary around 433
  12. Used the 3-leaf shamrock to teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy GhostThe History Channel: Symbols and Traditions

• Snakes From Ireland

  Saint Patrick relates in his Confesio that he had a dream in which the people of Ireland were calling to him to come and tell them about God. Patrick is credited with banishing snakes from Ireland, but they actually didn't exist there. It is said that the "snakes" he banished refers to the serpent symbol in Druidism; therefore banishing paganism from Ireland.The History Channel: Symbols and Traditions

• St. Patrick's Day Questions

  • When is Saint Patrick's Day?
  • What are some good St. Patrick's Day recipes?
  • How do you make green beer and is it safe to drink?
  • Who was St. Patrick?

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  St Patrick's Day Sayings | St Patricks Day Games | Erin Go Bragh | Irish Music | Ireland | St. Patrick's Day Recipes | Saint Patrick's Day Activities and Crafts | Saint Patrick's Day Lesson Plans | Saint Patrick's Day Worksheets | St. Patrick's Day Word Search | Saint Patrick's Day Coloring Pages

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page