A Little More Irish Info

St. Patrick's Day to the Irish isn't about drinking beer and partying. For Catholics in Ireland, it's a family day that begins with going to church to honor their patron saint and then enjoying a parade in the afternoon. Some false legends exist about St. Patrick. He didn't drive snakes out of Ireland, but Patrick did change the barbaric ways of many people there by converting them to Christianity.

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain in 387 to a wealthy family. At the age of 16, he was captured, taken to Ireland and sold into slavery. While enslaved by the Irish Druids for six years, Patrick spent time praying, learning the Celtic language and educating himself about Druidism. While praying, Patrick reportedly often received messages from angels. One message advised him to flee from his Druid masters and return to his British homeland.

Patrick escaped and traveled by ship back to Britain. Then the angels kept telling him to return to Ireland and teach the Druids about Christianity. Patrick spent the next 30 years fulfilling that religious mission and founded many churches throughout Ireland. Historians say St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach the meaning of the Trinity -- the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.