Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Saint Patrick’s Day is named after the most commonly recognised patron saint of Ireland and is a religious holiday celebrated on March 17^th. It was officially made a feast day in the early 17^th century and has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture in general. It is a public holiday in The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat.

Observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans the day is traditionally celebrated by going to church, wearing green attire and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking. Although you now see lots of people dressed in green on Saint Patrick’s Day, the colour original associated with St Patrick was blue. Over time, green has overtaken blue with the wearing of shamrocks and green ribbons.

Although St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, he was actually born in Scotland in the 4^th century to roman parents Calpurnius and Conchessa who were living in Britain in charge of the colonies. Around the age of sixteen, St Patrick was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. During his captivity, he turned to god in prayer and after four years he dreamt that god had told him to leave Ireland by going to the coast. He was reunited with his family and then went on to study to become a priest at the church in Auxerre in Gaul. After years of study, Patrick was called back to Ireland as a bishop to preach the gospel. He converted many and began to build churches all over the country. Irish folklore tells that he used the shamrock as a teaching tool to explain the holy trinity. Patrick died on the 17^th March, 461 after 40 years preaching and converting. He performed many miracles and wrote his love of god in his confessions. He had many disciples and although there were more successful missions to Ireland from Rome, St Patrick has endured as the principal champion of Irish Christianity.

St Patrick's Day is massively popular today and is celebrated across the world. The chicago river is dyed green every year. If you go out on St Patrick's Day you'll see people wearing green and silly hats, drinking guiness and other green concoctions and waving shamrocks. So if you are out tonight - enjoy and have a green drink for me!