Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.
Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.
One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.
It was in Boston where the Day was first celebrated in a public way. Gradually other states took it up. And it was New York that took out the largest ever St Patrick' s Day parade. Held since 1762, the New York City parade on St Patrick's Day draws more than one million spectators each year.
Meanwhile the city of Chicago has developed a unique tradition of coloring the river water green. It started in 1962 when 100 pounds of green vegetable dye were added to its river, enough to keep it green for a week. The tradition has continued till date. Now, 40 pounds of a green food coloring keep the river green for only a few hours.
These apart Irish community in various cities celebrate the Day with social and community works. Making charities, attending mass, promoting their own culture, and feasting with their foods.
全国37城最新薪酬排行 北京超1万元领跑!
体坛英语资讯:Denmark goalkeeper says hes proud of team despite World Cup exit
体坛英语资讯:LeBron James signs four-year deal with Lakers
比伯求婚成功!女主角却不是我们以为的那个!
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Top legislature holds joint inquiry meeting on air pollution control
国际英语资讯:Belarus highlights good progress in China-Belarus industrial park
没有配枪 墨西哥警察局给警员配备弹弓
体坛英语资讯:Croatia coach: We have to do more against Russia
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Affluent Chinese manufacturing base shares opportunities with the world
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China, Kuwait agree to establish strategic partnership
国际英语资讯:Czech president appoints new justice minister
贵州梵净山列入世界遗产名录
国内英语资讯:Commerce ministry introduces policies to relieve impacts of China-U.S. trade frictions
研究表明:节食可缓解糖尿病
研究显示 领带会阻碍血液流向大脑
国内英语资讯:Strategic partnership heralds new chapter of China, Arab states ties: FM
国内英语资讯:China, Germany agree to oppose protectionism
你知道吗? 常说这些词的人可能患了抑郁症!
如何快速治疗喉咙痛?
If the cap fits 用“帽子合适就戴上吧”劝人接受批评
囧研究:一天7杯咖啡能让你活得更久!
Talking to technology 能与你聊天的“虚拟助手”
国内英语资讯:AL Secretary General: B&R Initiative has potential to transform world
Is education making you blind? 学习真的会伤害视力吗?
体坛英语资讯:Kenya 15s team targets Uganda scalp in hunt for Rugby Africa Gold Cup points
国际英语资讯:Stronger British economic growth points to rate rise in August, but political uncertainty ma
商务部发言人介绍缓解中美贸易摩擦影响有关政策
国际英语资讯:Canadian PM pledges commitment to Latvias security
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Chinese premier hails China-Germany cooperation on autopilot, pledges further sup
英国路易小王子受洗 威廉凯特请宾客吃七年前的婚礼蛋糕
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |