Senior Moments - The Campbellford Seniors Club Newsletter Issue 25 | Page 15

Information & News
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated
annually on March 17th, the
traditional religious feast day of St.
Patrick and the day he is believed to
have died in 460 A.D. The Irish have
observed this religious holiday for
hundreds of years.
Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick is the beloved patron
saint of Ireland. The Irish are
famous for spinning exaggerated
tales, so despite the infamous
stories traditionally attributed to St
Patrick, quite little is actually known
about his life. We do know that St.
Patrick was born in Britain and
that at the age of 16 was captured
by Irish raiders who attacked
his family’s estate. He was then
transported to Ireland where he
was held captive for six years, living
a solitary, lonely life as a shepherd.
It was then that he became a devout
Christian, embracing his religion for
solace. From his writing, we know
that a voice, which he believed to be
that of God, spoke to him in a dream,
urging him to leave Ireland. He did.
Walking nearly 200 miles, Patrick
escaped to Britain and undertook
seriously religious training.
After 15 years of study, Patrick was
ordained as a priest and sent to
Ireland. His mission was to minister
to Christians and to convert the
Irish, then pre-dominantly pagans,
to Christianity. Because Patrick was
familiar with the Irish language
and culture from his years of
captivity, he chose to incorporate
Irish ritual and symbols into his
teachings rather than to eradicate
Irish beliefs. Thus, was born the
Celtic cross. Patrick superimposed
the sun, a powerful Irish symbol,
onto the traditional Christian cross
so that the result would seem more
natural to the Irish.
Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Believe it or not, the first St
Patrick’s Day parade was held in
New York City on March 17, 1762.
Irish Americans were not the first,
however, to celebrate the feast
of St. Patrick. Irish families have
traditionally celebrated the feast of
St. Patrick as a religious holiday for
thousands of years—a great pause
during the Christian season of Lent
when prohibitions were lifted for
one day of dancing, drinking and
feasting on meat. Corned beef and
cabbage anyone?
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
– An Irish Toast
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