St. Patrick’s Day
1.
Who was
St. Patrick?
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, along with Saints
Brigit and Columba.
2.
What is
the purpose of St. Patrick’s Day?
The Origins of St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick died on March 17, 461. But did you know that he
wasn't even Irish?
3.
Why is St.
Patrick’s Day designed when it is?
Saint Patrick's Day
was made an official Christian feast
day in the early 17th
century and is observed by the Catholic
Church, the Anglican
Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),[4] the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the
arrival of Christianity in Ireland,[3] as
well as celebrating the heritage
and culture of the
Irish in general.[5] Celebrations
generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.[6] Christians
also attend church
services and the Lenten
restrictions on
eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the
day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol
consumption.
4.
Why a
certain color on St. Patrick’s Day?
The color green is closely associated with Ireland, the Irish, and St.
Patrick's Day — no matter where it is celebrated. It's also the color of
nature. Originally, blue was the color forest but today it's all about the green.
Let's take a look at four specific shades of green as well as orange and gold.
5.
Other information
of interest