Tuesday, March 17, 2009

St. Patrick's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day, as well as Auntie Liz's birthday! And with all the green and clovers you see here and there, it got me thinking, how did this really all start, there must of been something before all the green beer?


"According to History.com, Patrick was actually born in Britain. At 16, he was taken prisoner “by a group of Irish raiders” who took him across the sea to Ireland. There, he spent six years in captivity. Apparently, it was then that he turned to religion as a means of fighting off fear and loneliness.
Eventually, Patrick escaped. Guided by a voice he believed to be God’s, Patrick walked 200 miles to the Irish coast. Back in Britain, he trained to be a priest for 15 years. Patrick then returned to Ireland with two goals — “to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish.”
Patrick was successful in his goals, perhaps largely due to his incorporating traditional Irish symbols into Christianity. For example, many believe he came up with the Celtic cross. According to legend, he wanted to incorporate an Irish symbol (the sun) onto the Cross “so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.” The site Catholic.org explains that Patrick also used a three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish (other sites call this another myth).
St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 “after years of living in poverty, traveling, and enduring much suffering.” " Seems pretty far off from what the holiday has now become.
Well...Happy St. Patty's Day!!
And a big ol' Happy Birthday to Auntie Liz!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Sweetie,
It was a bit of a crappie day. We had a great tragedy occur to one of our students so..low key and sad day.

But the birthday wishes brightened the day!!

Love ya

Auntie Liz