St Patrick's Day - What Is It Really All About?

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St. Patrick's Day, which falls on March 17th, is celebrated around the world. For many people this festival brings to mind Irish leprechauns, dressing in green and, of course, pints of Guinness. However, there is more to St. Patrick's Day than just beer and fancy dress and this article explores some of the lesser-known facts about the day. chicago music festivals 2016

Firstly, it is important to investigate who St. Patrick was and why he is associated with this day of revelry. Contrary to what many people may believe, he was, in fact, from Wales, and wasn't Irish by birth. When he was just sixteen years old, it is alleged that he was captured and taken as a slave to Ireland. While he was there he converted to chicago music festivals 2016
  and claims he heard voices telling him to go back to Great Britain. According to biographer Philip Freeman, these voices told Patrick to go back to Ireland and to teach the Irish about Christianity. This is why he is accredited with bringing the chicago music festivals 2016
  faith to the Emerald Isle. St. Patrick came across a lot of opposition whilst carrying out his mission and he died in relative anonymity in 461 AD. Many myths now surround his life and work.

One of the most popular tales about St. Patrick is that he got rid of all the snakes in Ireland. However, although there are no snakes in Ireland today, there never were. Freeman argues that this story surrounding the banishing of snakes from the Emerald Isle was a metaphor for the fact that St. Patrick "drove the old, evil, pagan ways out of Ireland" (National Geographic, March 16, 2012, John Roach).



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