Around 2016 | Page 3

AROUND THE WORLD AND OUR SCHOOL PAGE 3 AROUND THE WORLD AND OUR SCHOOL PAGE 4 ST. PATRICK’S DAY – THE IRISH FEAST St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th. It is the day of Ireland’s patron saint. St. Patrick was born in 387 in Britain, which was then occupied by the Roman Empire. He came from a family of priests. When Patrick was a teenager he was kidnapped by raiders from Ireland. They took him to Ireland as a slave. As there were no Christians in Ireland he prayed. After 4 years he escaped and went back to Britain. Then he decided to become a priest. He studied and finally was made a bishop. After a few years he went back to Ireland. He worked there for 40 years. He told the Irish about God and the Holy Trinity. That’s why he used a shamrock (now a very popular symbol of St. Patrick’s Day). He converted many Irish people to Christianity, he built churches and monasteries. Patrick died on March 17th, 461. Now it’s a popular feast not only in Ireland, but also all over the world among the people of Irish heritage. On this day people wear green clothes, shamrocks and eat a traditional Irish meal which is beef and cabbage. Other symbols are also associated with this day, e.g. a leprechaun. It’s a magical character from Irish folk tales. He is said to have a pot of gold and live at the end of a rainbow. If you catch him, you’ll be rich. So, how about trying? Find these words in a text: - a person who performs religious duties - to make somebody change their religion or beliefs - a building in which monks live - an arch of different colours which appears in the sky