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Street Parties Events - St Patrick's Day
The heroic story of Patrick has taken many twists and turns and is now surrounded in folklore and myth. Patrick is best known for having driven the snakes from Ireland but this is really a metaphor for the way he helped spread christianity. Ireland never had a snake problem but symbols of snakes and serpents were common in old pagan religions. Patrick (Maewyn Succat, 415-493AD) was a Roman Briton who was taken from his home in Wales to work as a slave shepherd in Co Antrim at the age of sixteen. His grandfather Poitius was a priest and in his twenties he escaped to Auxerre France (Gaul) to study for priesthood. He was ordained as a deacon, then priest and finally as a bishop. Pope Celestine then sent him back to Ireland to preach the gospel. He wrote The Confessio (The Confession) which describes his life and beliefs including his decision to go to remote parts of Ireland to spread Christianity. Muirchu and Tireachain retold the story of Patrick in the 7th Century, to support the case of Armagh to the Primacy of All Ireland. A copy of The Confessio is contained in the 9th Century Book of Armagh which is now on show at Trinity College. He became the Patron Saint of Ireland posthumously and he is believed to be buried with St Brigid and St Columba in Downpatrick, Co Down. All things Irish are celebrated on the day, with all sorts of special events. Street Parties are always popular. The first St Patrick's Day Parade was organised by the Society of the Charitable Irish of Boston and took place in Boston in 1737. Today, traditional parades with pipe bands and floats are organised in Ireland and all around the world, including places such as Seattle, Munich, Houston, Oslo, New York, Toronto, Colorado, Minsk, Los Angeles and Tokyo. In England you can catch the parades in Manchester, Bradford and Birmingham on the weekend before St. Patrick's Day every year. Going Green is especially important and everyone should make an attempt to go green in one way or another. For example by wearing something green like a shamrock or even adding green food colouring to your beer. The phrase Drowning the Shamrock comes from the custom of drinking whiskey down with a shamrock floating on the top. Legend says Patrick used the shamrock to explain The Trinity, the theory of one god, to King Laoghaire. Wearing the Shamrock, a form of clover, on St Patrick's Day is also a symbol of the cross. Mary's Shamrock is a four leafed shamrock considered extremely lucky for anyone who finds it. In Philadelphia, USA, at 7pm March 17th 2001 in Jack Pearson Stadium (Glen Mills Schools) the USA v Ireland Rugby League Match will take place before an expected crowd of more than 5,000. In Reading, UK, on March 17th 2001 in Madejski Stadium the London Irish Rugby team will be playing against Northampton followed by 'The biggest post-match party ever in the Thames Valley'. That evening from 5pm in a huge marquee on the North Stand there will be a free party featuring London Irish Band 'Le Ceile'. In addition, an attempt on the record number of pints of Guinness to be consumed at one match will be taking place. The target is a mere 18,000 pints! Internet links: |
St
Patrick's Day, on March 17th, is an Irish National Holiday
that is celebrated throughout the world. As a religious
holiday it is a traditional day for offering prayers and
attending mass. It is also a day of festivities including
parades, parties, galas and balls, with a plentiful supply
of customary food and drink.