Today, on March 17th, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland in honour of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who died on this day in 461 AD and brought Christianity to Ireland during the 5th century.
Thousands of people from Ireland and all over the world fill the streets of the city centre, dressed in green with their emerald hats and garments. Some people watch the parade that takes place in the city, whilst others prefer to start drinking their green Guinness from early morning.
Traditional Irish music dominates the pub scene, and the party continues until dusk. This tradition has spread all over the world, making Ireland famous worldwide. But did you know that Saint Patrick was not Irish?
He was born actually in Britain in the late 4th century. Patrick was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped six years later and returned home, where he became a Christian missionary. He came back to Ireland as a preacher and is credited with converting much of the population to Christianity.
Saint Patrick died on March 17th, 461 AD, and is celebrated annually on that date. Over time, his story grew into a mix of historical fact and folklore, and today, Saint Patrick's Day is a worldwide celebration of Irish culture, marked by parades, feasts, and a lot of green!
