Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona daoibh – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
Millions of people around the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, on the 17th of March, every year – but what is it and who was Patrick? It is a celebration of Irish history and culture, and is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and is celebrated for bringing Christianity to the country.
He is thought to have grown up in Wales, during Roman times, but was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. Once he was free again, he became a priest, and went back to Ireland to convert thousands of people to Christianity. He is credited with teaching the people of Ireland about Christianity using the three-leafed shamrock which represented God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – and it is claimed he banished all snakes from Ireland too!
The Celebration
Whilst Saint Patrick’s Day started as a religious feast to celebrate Saint Patrick’s work, it’s grown to be an international festival of all things Irish. People take part in parades and Irish dancing, eat Irish food including official national dish Irish stew served with its unofficial one – a big plate of mashed potatoes! and enjoy Irish music, singing, story-telling and poetry.
The day is also famous for people wearing shamrocks, dressing up as bearded Irish fairies called leprechauns (although not all Irish people like this association), and wearing either all green or their county’s Gaelic football or hurling (an Irish sport which feels like a mix between rugby, hockey and lacrosse – & officially the world’s fastest land sport!) jersey! Why not find out more about Ireland, Northern Ireland and irish culture in Nottingham on this St Patrick’s day?!
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona daoibh – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
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