St. Patrick's Day Trivia

Well, I'm not pure Irish, but I've got some Irish blood on my dad's side of the family. Regardless, I enjoy attending the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York with the kids. Here's some fun trivia I want to share:

-At the age of 16, Patrick considered himself a pagan. He converted to Christianity while enslaved by a sheep farmer. At 16, Irish brigands captured him and sold him into slavery in either Country Antrim or County Mayo in Ireland. When he was 22, he escaped, returned home, and then spent the next dozen years in a monastery in France. It is believed he turned to God while he was in captivity.

-It’s a legend that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach pagans about Christianity. Patrick eventually returned to Ireland — after having dreamed the Irish were calling him back — and is said to have used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the pagans.

-St. Patrick introduced the Roman alphabet and Latin literature into Ireland. After his death, about 461AD, Irish monasteries flourished as centers of learning.

-Patrick incorporated traditional rituals into his lessons on Christianity. Patrick, in one instance, is said to have superimposed a sun, a significant symbol to the Irish, onto the Christian cross. Thus the Celtic cross was born, and veneration of the symbol would seem more palatable to the Irish.

-The St. Patrick’s Day parade first took place in New York City on March 17, 1762. This first parade was comprised of Irish soldiers serving in the English army to help them connect with their Irish roots and fellow countrymen. Nowadays, St. Patrick’s Day parades take place in major cities like New York, Montreal and Dublin.

Hope that was interesting to you!