| St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by millions of people | | | | pagan worship, not snakes in general. |
| each year. This year to make a friend or family | | | | Another of Patrick's most celebrated |
| members St. Patrick's Day, that bit more special, | | | | accomplishments is the introduction of alcohol to |
| try sending them a free e-card. Free e-cards are | | | | Ireland, which has had a profound and long-lasting |
| quickly becoming the fast affordable way of | | | | effect on that culture. |
| sending ecards. | | | | The most prominent symbol associated with St. |
| St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, whose | | | | Patrick's Day is the shamrock, a variety of clover. |
| missionary work in that country lasted for thirty | | | | Patrick himself adopted the shamrock, a plant held |
| years, during the course of which St. Patrick | | | | sacred by the Celtic Druids, to signify the Holy |
| consecrated 350 bishops, converted no fewer | | | | Trinity and demonstrate it for the unconverted |
| than 135,000 Irish citizens, not to mention | | | | Irish. |
| traveled extensively and made his Christian name | | | | In Ireland, where St. Patrick's Day is a national |
| so well known that places named after him exist | | | | holiday and most citizens are off work, the day is |
| throughout Europe to this day. | | | | observed with church worship, community |
| Born Maewyn Succat in Roman Britain in 387 C.E., | | | | gatherings, and family meals. The St. Patrick's Day |
| the event most significant in turning him towards | | | | Parade in Dublin is only a recent occurrence, |
| Christianity was his capture by Celtic raiders at | | | | however common that public display of |
| the age of sixteen and the years he spent | | | | enthusiasm for the celebration has been made in |
| enslaved by them in Ireland.During his | | | | American cities. |
| enslavement, he learned the local customs, | | | | While St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is a more solemn |
| language, in addition to the rituals and symbols of | | | | event, the festive tone of the celebration in the |
| the Celtic Druids, a form of pagan worship the | | | | United States can be historically traced to the |
| majority of whose followers Patrick would | | | | days when Irish immigrants were discriminated |
| ultimately convert to Catholicism. | | | | against and persecuted, and the occasion is used |
| This knowledge proved useful when Patrick | | | | as a public display of pride in Irish culture and |
| returned to Ireland around 432 C.E. as the Apostle | | | | roots. |
| ordained by the Roman Catholic Church to bring | | | | The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place on |
| the light and redemption of Christianity to the | | | | the streets of New York City on March 17, 1762 |
| unenlightened locals. | | | | and largely consisted of the Irish soldiers serving |
| The people were extremely responsive to Patrick | | | | in the British military. Along with grand parades |
| and what he preached, something that was only | | | | that are held in most major cities in the United |
| abetted by the fact that Patrick was able to | | | | States, St. Patrick's Day is commemorated with |
| Christianize the symbols of Celtic culture and | | | | the wearing of green, which symbolizes the |
| religion to further reinforce his teachings. | | | | rejuvenation of spring as well as Irish roots, and |
| According to legend, it was Patrick who drove out | | | | the consumption of green beer and an evening of |
| the snakes from Ireland, as the reptiles really do | | | | active bar-hopping. |
| not inhabit the island, but in light of the symbolism | | | | Millions of e-cards are sent each year. You too |
| of the serpent in the story of Adam and Eve, this | | | | could send a free e-card simply by going onto the |
| can be taken to mean that he rid Ireland of | | | | internet, and typing your message into the e-card. |