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St Patrick's Day
St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland although it has never been proved that any snakes existed in Irelend but it does make for a nice legend. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures for he changed his life and became a Christian and followed the religion and it's teachings through practice and spread his knowledge and teachings throughout Ireland where ever he went.
St. Patrick died on March 17th in the fifth century and according to the customs of that time it was a day of celebration and feasting. On the annivesary of his death each year the Irish people celebrated him. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years and in 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766.
Today, the tradition continues with people from all walks and heritages by wearing green, eating Irish food, and attending parades. St. Patrick's Day is bursting with folklore; from the shamrock to the leprechaun and to pinching those that are not wearing green. Some celebrate the day as a holy day honouring the man who brought Christianity to Ireland, while others simply celebrate their Irish heritage.
The Shamrock
The first mention of the shamrock appeared nearly a thousand years after Patrick's death. The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.
The Leprechaun
The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow." Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure.
Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick or the celebration of St. Patrick's holy however that all changed in 1959 when Walt Disney released a film called "Darby O'Gill & the Little People", which introduced America to a very different sort of leprechaun than the cantankerous little man of Irish folklore. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but has quickly evolved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St. Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.
Compiled from info taken from
Wikipedia, Dictionary.com and Reference.com
