Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
He is known for introducing Christianity to Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s Life
Saint Patrick died on the 17th March, which is when �St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year.
He became a Christian priest. He returned to Ireland� and converted many Irish people to Christianity.
Saint Patrick was born in Wales in the 4th Century.
He was taken to Ireland as an enslaved person when �he was 16, but he escaped after 6 years.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
St. Patrick’s Day became an official �holiday in Ireland in 1903.
There are lots of different traditions �for celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.
Let’s have a look �at a few from �Ireland and from around the world
Saint Patrick’s Day Traditions
People wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. �Some people wear costumes or funny hats.
Some people go to church in the morning. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has primarily been a religious festival.
People take part �in special parades.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
Canada
USA
UK
Australia
New Zealand
St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish national holiday but it is also celebrated in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
New York
The biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade is in New York.
It has been going for over 250 years.
The Empire State Building even turns �on green lights for the occasion.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
The UK
Birmingham holds the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the UK with a city centre parade that is over 2 miles long. It is the third biggest parade after New York and Dublin.
In Trafalgar Square, London there is a parade and festival and the water in the fountains is dyed green.
St. Patrick’s Day Symbols
The Shamrock
The shamrock is a St. Patrick’s Day symbol because Saint Patrick used the shamrock to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity. The three leaves represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Three in one.
Shamrocks are also used to �symbolise Ireland as a country.
The colour green is used to represent Ireland and Saint Patrick because of the shamrock.
St. Patrick’s Day Symbols
Leprechauns
The leprechaun is a type of fairy usually taking �the form of an old man who enjoys mischief.
Leprechauns are part of Irish mythology.
In stories, they make shoes and store away coins �in pots of gold hidden at the end of rainbows.
They are Irish and people find them interesting so they therefore symbolise St. Patrick’s Day worldwide.