Good Morning Square One! Your "Morning Smile" for Wednesday, March 17th, 2021.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY?

WHO WAS ST. PATRICK? WAS HE A REAL PERSON?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He is credited with successfully spreading Christianity throughout Ireland—hence the Christian celebration of his life and name.

Here’s a bit about St. Patrick himself.

The man who would eventually become St. Patrick was born in Britain (part of the Roman Empire at the time) as Maewyn Succat in the late 4th century. His family was Christian, but it’s said that Maewyn himself was an atheist throughout his childhood.

That would change at age 16 (around A.D. 400), when Maewyn was kidnapped from his home on the west coast of Britain by Irish pirates, who proceeded to carry him off to Ireland and force him to work as a shepherd herding sheep. After six years, he escaped his captors, walking nearly 200 miles through the Irish landscape and convincing a ship to carry him with them back to Britain. This harrowing experience certainly had an effect on Maewyn, who was convinced it was the Lord who protected him and delivered him safely home.

A little break before the rest of the story

A Irish Tale

Continued ...

Upon returning home, Maewyn received his call (in a dream) to preach the Gospel— He spent the next 15 or so years in a monastery in Britain, preparing for his missionary work. When he became a priest, his name was changed to Patricius, and he returned to the land of his captors to begin his teachings.

WHY IS THE SHAMROCK ASSOCIATED WITH ST. PATRICK’S DAY?

We wear a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day because, legend says, St. Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity in his teachings. (The Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as three divine persons who are one divine being [God].) 

The truth of the St. Patrick legend, however, is in question, as there is no direct record that the saint actually used the shamrock as a teaching tool.

MORE ST. PATRICK’S DAY FACTS, FUN

• Blue was the color originally associated with St. Patrick, but green is now favored.

• The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the American colonies was held in New York City on this day in 1762.

• St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional day for planting peas, even in the snow! See the fun video on how to plant peas. 

How to plant peas from Dublin - Easy Pea sey

Traditionally, cabbage seeds were planted on St. Patrick’s Day in northern zones. Old-time farmers believed that to make them grow well, you needed to plant them while wearing your nightclothes!