| Whether you're Irish or simply love Irish traditions and | | | | the UK as the man who single-handedly spread |
| holidays, St. Patrick's Day brings Irish cheer to many | | | | Christianity throughout Ireland during his day. Perhaps |
| people around the world. St. Patrick's Day is a | | | | the most famous legendary story about St. Patrick is |
| celebration of all things Irish, commemorated on | | | | that he drove out snakes while in Ireland. Though this |
| March 17 when many families gather and serve | | | | story is probably not true, many Irishmen claim that a |
| cabbage, corned beef, and delightful mint chocolate | | | | snake cannot be found in Ireland! |
| pies. Some cities even celebrate by changing entire | | | | Celebrations of St. Patrick's Day |
| bodies of water to the color green to remember the | | | | Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the |
| beloved St. Patrick. | | | | world. In Ireland, it was once a religious holiday, but is |
| The holiday also sparks a tradition of shopping for | | | | now used to draw millions of tourists each year with |
| and wearing Irish t-shirts and apparel, usually the color | | | | parades, fireworks, and live entertainment. In |
| green. People celebrate by wearing cute Irish | | | | America, there are parades, Irish dances and jigs, |
| accessories and fun clothing to create humor on the | | | | Irish singing, wearing Leprechaun-themed outfits, |
| holiday. | | | | clovers with three leaves, and more. The holiday is |
| Brief History of St. Patrick's Day | | | | celebrated with a day of prayer by many Irish |
| The holiday remembers St. Patrick, one of Ireland's | | | | Catholic families. St. Patrick's Day is often called by a |
| patron saints. St. Patrick was born to a family of | | | | nickname, St. Paddy's Day. There are even products |
| aristocrats in Whales and was set on course to | | | | and icons designed specifically for the holiday such as |
| become a priest. He was captured at 16 years of | | | | Paddy the loveable Leprechaun, which can be bought |
| age and taken to Ireland by Irish raiders. For six | | | | in various themes like Cop Paddy, Firefighter Paddy, |
| years, he was held captive, but was also able to | | | | or Cowboy Paddy. |
| grow spiritually during this time. He believed he heard | | | | St. Patrick's Day Online Shopping |
| the voice of God commanding him to leave Ireland, | | | | Those wanting to celebrate "St. Paddy's Day" can |
| so he escaped to Britain after walking hundreds of | | | | find great items online for the occasion. There are |
| miles. | | | | Leprechaun crafts and gifts. For work or school, lots |
| He became a priest and returned to Ireland, knowing | | | | of people wear Irish T-shirts and apparel. For the true |
| that many citizens of Ireland were pagans at the | | | | fan, there are even Paddy mugs, mouse pads, teddy |
| time. He created the famous Celtic Cross and used | | | | bears, pillows, buttons, and tote bags. One custom is |
| some of the Irish customs he had learned to | | | | to wear green so you won't get pinched. These |
| celebrate Easter. Many people believe St. Patrick died | | | | items have plenty of green for protection! |
| on March 17 in 461 AD. His legend grew in Ireland and | | | | |