The person that we all today as St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, was born in wales around AD 385. His birth name was Maewyn Scott. At the age of sixteen he was kidnapped by a band of pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. He worked as a shepard, and turned to religion for solace. After six years of slavery, he escaped to Gual where he studied in the monastary under Bishop of Auxerre, St. Germain, for a period of twelve years. While in Gual he became known as Patrick. Patrick believed it was his calling to convert Pagens to Christianity. He wished to return to Ireland to convert the native Pagens to Christianity. St. Palladius was instead appointed to go to Ireland, but after two years he transferred to Scotland, opening the door for Patrick, who was appointed the second bishop of Ireland. Patrick was quite sucessful at winning converts. Which upset the Celtic Druids, and he was arrested several times, but always managed to escape. He traveled throughout Ireland establishing monasteries, and schools which aided him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity. His mission in in Ireland lased for 30 years, after which time he retired to County Down, and died on March 17, AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patricks day ever since. 1737 was the first year that St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in America, in Boston.

Luck of the Irish

Finding a Four-Leaf Clover
Wearing Green
Kissing the Blarney Stone
Capturing a Leprechaun (if you can)

St. Patricks Day Symbols

Shamrock

St. Patrick used the Shamrock leaf to
symbolize the trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.)

Blarney Stone

The Blarney Castle was built in 1446
and is located in County Cork, Ireland
The Blarney Stone is located in the
southern tower wall between the main
castle wall, and the parapet. It is
believed that the Blarney Stone has
magical properties. Legend has it that
an old woman, whom the king had saved
from drowning, cast a spell upon the
stone as an award to the King. Kissing
the stone gave the King the ability to
speak sweetly, and convincingly

Leprechauns

A Leprechaun is an Irish Fairy, who looks
like a little old man. He stands about 2 feet
tall, and dresses like a shoemaker, with a
cocked hat, and leather apron. He is an unfriendly
little guy, who lives alone, and spends his time
making shoes. It is also believed that the Leprechaun
possess a hidden pot of gold

If you listen close for the sound of his hammer, you
may be able to capture one, and force him (with bodily
harm) to tell you where his pot of gold is. But you must
keep your eye on him at all times, for if you look away
he will surly vanish, taking with him all hope of you
finding his treasure.

St. Patrick's Day Pinch/Wearing Green

The wearing of green on St. Patrick's Day
is a U.S. custom. It was started by school
children. If a classmate is not wearing green
on this holiday, they will be pinched. Green
is not a popular color in Ireland. It is
connected to the old green flag, and a time
when Ireland was not free. Green is also the
color of spring.

Irish Blessings, and Sayings

Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree
Live mystical, magical leprechauns who are clever as can be.
With pointed ears, turned up toes and little coats of green,
The leprechauns make their shoes, trying hard to ne'er be seen.
Only those who really believe have seen these little elves.
If you believe and look with your heart, you can see them yourselves.

You�ve blessed me with friends
and laughter and fun
With rain that�s as soft
as the light from the sun-
You�ve blessed me with the stars
to brighten each night
You�ve give me help
to know wrong from right
You�ve give me so much
please, Lord give me too
A heart that is always
Grateful to you.

May good saint protect you
and bless you today
and many troubles ignore you
each step of the way

These things I warmly wish to you
Someone to love
Some work to do
A bit o'sun
a bit o'cheer
And a guardian angel
always near

May good luck be your friend
in what-ever you do
Anf may trouble be always
A stranger to you

May your home be filled with laughter
may your pockets be filled with gold
and may you have all the happiness
your Irish heart can hold

May your blessings out number
the shamrocks that grow
and may trouble avoid you
where-ever you go

Hills as green as emralds
cover the country side
lakes as blue as sapphires
and Ireland's special pride
and rivers that shine like silver
make Ireland look so fair
but the friendliness of her people
is the richest treasure there

Here's to the old lady
up the hill
if she won't drink it
I will

Ideas

Start the morning off with green eggs, ham,
and a tall glass of green milk for breakfast
Fry the ham, and simply add a couple drops of
green food coloring to the eggs before frying
them, and a couple drops to the glass of milk,
and stir. Grab Dr. Suesses "Green eggs, and ham
and read the story to the kids as they eat their
breakfast.

For dinner have burgers, and fries. Use green ketchup,
on the burgers, and to dip the fries in. Make green
kool aid for the beverage, and serve green jello for
dessert

(My daughter loves this)Purchase some Bath time color
caplets (we get ours at Walmart)they change the color
of the bath water. Use a blue, and yellow caplet to
turn the water green, and when bath time rolls around
let the kids take a green bath.

Recipes

Irish Coffee

per cup:
2 teaspoons sugar,
2/3 cup hot brewed coffee
2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
whipped cream
Combine sugar, coffee, and whiskey
Add a dollop of whipped cream to each cup
Enjoy!

My St. Patrick's Day Adoptions

Links

Send a St.Patrick's Day E_Card

St.Patrick's Day coloring pages

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backgrounds,and some graphics came from here