St Patricks Day History and Traditions Who was

St. Patrick’s Day History and Traditions

Who was St. Patrick? St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He converted many Irish to Christianity in the fifth century. St. Patrick incorporated traditional Celtic symbols, like the bonfire and the sun, into his Christian teachings. St. Patrick died on March 17, circa 462. St. Patrick’s Day is the saint’s feast day and has evolved from a religious holiday to a worldwide celebration.

St. Patrick’s Day Symbols The shamrock, or “seamroy, ” symbolizes the rebirth of spring. It was later adopted as a symbol of Irish nationalism. The Celtic Cross – a sun (from the Celts) superimposed on a cross (from the Christians) The leprechaun, or “lobaircin” was a cranky, “small-bodied fellow” of Celtic folklore, given its “cute” features and popularized in the United States by Walt Disney.

St. Patrick’s Day Symbols St. Patrick never drove snakes from Ireland; the story is a metaphor for driving paganism from the island. Music has always been an important part of Irish life. Irish music is produced with instruments like the fiddle, the uilleann pipes, the tin whistle, and the bodhran. The traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage has been modified in the United States. Irish bacon has been replaced with corned beef for the annual feast.

Irish Names • There are 34 million U. S. residents who claim Irish ancestry, second only to German. • Some Irish names: – Corey – Gaelic for “ravine” – Douglas – from the Gaelic name Dubhghlas (“dark river or blood river”) – Brent – derived from an English place name which meant “hill” in Celtic – Bryan – possibly related to the Old Celtic element bre meaning “hill; high, noble” – Kevin – from Old Irish coem (“kind, gentle, handsome”) and gein (“birth”)