St. Patrick

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland despite the fact that he was Scottish, not Irish.
At age 16, he was taken to Ireland as a slave. He was sent to the mountains to be a shepherd. He spent this time reflecting and praying. Six years later he escaped. Over the next several years he pursued spiritual studies throughout Europe. He returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary and set about converting the pagans. According to legend, St. Patrick is said to have driven all the snakes from the isle and he is often depicted with a staff in his hand driving off the serpents. St. Patrick is probably the most well known figure in Christianity.

St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the United States in Boston but the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1766. The parade in New York was a show of strength and patriotism for the Irish who often suffered racial prejudice and persecution for their religious beliefs. On St. Patrick’s Day the Irish were at liberty to celebrate their culture.

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