St Patrick's day

St. Patrick was a 5th-century missionary in Ireland, who also served as a bishop there. He was credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland and was probably responsible for the Christianization of the Picts and Anglo-Saxons. He is one of the patron saints of Ireland. 

St. Patrick was born in Britain within a Romanized family. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and carried into slavery in Ireland. After six years in servitude, he had a dream of his escape and fled his master. Surviving a harrowing journey back to Britain, he was eventually reunited with his family.

There are many legends associated with the life of St. Patrick. According to one, he miraculously drove all the snakes of Ireland into the sea. He is

said to have used the three leaflets of the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. He reportedly raised as many as 33 people from the dead.

Another legend, probably the most popular, is that of the shamrock, which has him explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to an unbeliever by showing him the three-leaved plant with one stalk. 

Traditionally, Irishmen have worn shamrocks, the national flower of Ireland, in their lapels on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Written by Sara Gonçalves, Lancaster College Paços de Ferreira