'top of the mornin' to ya!

Interested in why we really celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

Background on Saint Patrick:

Well, Saint Patrick is said to have died on March 17th in or around 1493.

He was born and grew up in Roman Britain but was captured by Irish raiders. They brought him to Ireland and they made him a slave.

Years later he was able to leave and return to his family in Britain, where he entered the church and became a missionary.

He later came back to Ireland and worked there as a missionary.

The Holiday and Legend:

Popular legend says that Saint Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. However, the "snakes" that he really banished from Ireland were pagan worshippers of snake or serpent gods. (This is why we celebrate the holiday).

The Symbol:

The symbol of the holiday is the shamrock. Specifically, a shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant. It is a symbol of the Holy Trinity; a symbol that Saint Patrick made for the Holy Trinity and as a religious symbol for the Celtic Christian Church in Ireland.

How Leprechauns are associated with the holiday and what they're really like:

Irish fables actually portray leprechauns as ugly and mean, not in accordance with the present-day visions of rosy red cheeks and smiles. Leprechauns were shoemakers who hid the money they made from their shoemaking in pots hidden at the end of rainbows.

Folklore says if you catch one, they will grant you three wishes in return for their freedom.

Tradition of the holiday is to drink alcohol; mostly beer or Irish whiskey. People usually wear green in honor of Saint Patrick. If a person doesn't wear green on Saint Patrick's Day, there's a chance someone will pinch them. Sometimes people cook a traditional Irish dinner and make green drinks, like mint chocolate chip milkshakes.