St. Patrick's Day

18 березня учні Плосківської школи взяли участь у пізнавальній вікторині, організованій шкільним євроклубом "Euroland". Учні дізнались про історію походження Дня Св. Патріка та традиції святкування.

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. It's a national Irish holiday. But many people who immigrated to the United States have come from Ireland. Today, Irish descendants in the United States put on a noisier and bigger St. Patrick's Day celebration than the people in Ireland. Every year on March 17 or the preceding Saturday, cities with large population of Irish Americans have parades. Green is one of the national colours of Ireland and also one of the signs of spring. Green stripes are painted on the streets where the parade will travel. People wear green shirts, ties, hair ribbons and hats. Many American bars even serve green beer on that day!

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. When he was 16, he was sold into slavery to Ireland where he was a shepherd for 6 years. While in captivity he studied and turned to religion. He escaped slavery and later returned to Ireland as a missionary, determined to convert Ireland to Christianity. He used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day.