Every March 17, Irish people the world over gather to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The green is out and the beer is flowing (but always in moderation), but few know the history and origins of this festive day. So a little historical background is in order.
March 17 refers to the anniversary of Saint Patrick 's death in the year 461. Still considered Ireland's patron saint to this day, Saint Patrick was born in the 4th century in Great Britain. The son of a deacon, he was kidnapped at the age of 16. There, he became the slave of an Irish druid. After several years working as a shepherd in Gaelic Ireland, he managed to escape.
It was then that he decided to study theology in order to become a Catholic priest. He then returned to Ireland with a mission: to evangelize the entire country. To this day, the missionary is known as the founder of Irish Christianity. Legend has it that he tried to explain the notion of the Holy Trinity using a shamrock, the symbol of St. Patrick's Day.
But it was in the 17th century that the Catholic Church decided to recognize St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday. Then, in 1631, Pope Urban VIII declared March 17 St. Patrick's Day. Finally, the religious festival was transformed into a popular celebration in 1903, when March 17 was officially declared a public holiday in Ireland. And it wasn't until 1931 that the very first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in Ireland.
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