Saint Patrick's Day History
St. Patrick was born in the year of 385 in Britain. His father was a Catholic
nobleman and a deacon. Patrick at the age of 16 was captured by slave raiders
from Ireland. With a large group of prisoners he was transported to the than
pagan island. He was sold to a king in the northeast, and his job was tending
the pigs and sheep. After being held prisoner for six years he heard a voice in
his sleep telling him, "Soon you will go back to your homeland". Than
after a while he heard the same voice say, "Your ship is ready".
Trusting the voice and believing in God, Patrick went on a 200 mile journey to
find this ship. Finally he found the ship but the captain at first refused to
take him. Patrick asked God for help and soon after the captain changed
his mind. After this incident Patrick dedicated his life to becoming a priest
and teaching the Irish about Christianity. During his 30 years in Ireland
Patrick had founded more than 300 churches, and he had baptized more than a
100,000 people. There was still a lot of people who disagreed with Patrick. He
escaped from 12 attempts on his life. Patrick died from natural causes on March
17, 461. One of St. Patrick's ways to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to
unbelievers was by using the three leafed shamrock. The shamrock now Ireland's
national flower is worn by the Irish on St. Patricks day.
St. Patricks Day is now celebrated with party favors, party supplies and
green St. Patricks day decorations.
