St. Patrick's Day Louisiana

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Patron Saint of Ireland


Both Al and I can trace part of our ancestry back to the Emerald Isle, so we enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day. The history of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland is also very interesting to us. St. Patrick's Day is widely celebrated and is filled with merriment and often, drunken joy. However, many do not know that its namesake, Patrick, was a holy man and a bishop of the Catholic Church.
 

Ireland's Patron Saint

History of St. Patrick

Statue of St. Patrick

Hill of Slane Statue of St. Patrick and legend (Public Domain)




Many of the actual facts of the life of Patrick (or Maewyn which was believed to be his given name) have been distorted through the years with Irish folklore and stories, but there are some facts that can be verified. He was born either in Scotland, England, Wales or France (around the year 385 A.D.) but was definitely not Irish born. Most literature says that "Patrick" was kidnapped from his home by Irish marauders and was forced to work as a slave in Ireland for about 5 years. He finally escaped, returned home and spent time in monastery in Gaul, where he studied to become a priest.

Patrick was a Christian name which he adopted after he became a priest. He almost didn't become bishop of Ireland because his superiors didn't feel that he had the scholarship and finesse for the job, but during his time as bishop he converted many people and established churches, schools and monasteries all over Ireland. He worked as a missionary for 30 years, eventually transforming Celtic Druid, non-Christian Ireland into the Catholic Church's "Isle of Saints". Patrick retired to Saul in County Down and died on March 17 in or about the year 461. March 17 became his commemorative "death day". By the eighth century, Patrick had become the Patron Saint of Ireland.

 

St. Patrick Irish Legend

St. Patrick: The Irish Legend

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Countdown to St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day: March 17, 2012

Irish Song Medeley

Listen to a bit of Irish music to get you in the mood for St. Patrick's Day.
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Shamrock


There are many fantastic (and unsubstantiated) stories about the deeds of St. Patrick, but one that does have historical merit explains how the shamrock came to be associated with his holy day.

One of the primary church doctrines, that Peter continually taught, was that of the Trinity which is the belief that three Gods (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost) coexist in a single entity, but are also separate and distinct. During one sermon, while he was struggling to make his point, he happened to look down and spy the three-leaved shamrock. He plucked a leaf and while holding it towards his congregation explained that the three leaves represent the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and the stem represents the single Godhead from which they came. After St. Patrick's death, his converts wore a shamrock as a religious symbol on his feast day. Today, the shamrock continues to be a symbol of St. Patrick's Day and Ireland.

 

Irish Dancers

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Story of St. Patrick's Day

The Story of St. Patrick's Day

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Celebrate St. Patricks Day on Amazon

Seasonal Classic Stickers-St. Patrick's Day

Seasonal Classic Stickers-St. Patrick's Day

Seasonally themed flat stickers.0 points

Sterling Silver Four Leaf Clover and Crystal Necklace, 18

Sterling Silver Four Leaf Clover and Crystal Necklace, 18"

Sterling silver four leaf clover charm and green t more...0 points

St. Patrick's Day Countdown by Salina Yoon

St. Patrick's Day Countdown by Salina Yoon

Count along with the forest friends in this shimme more...0 points

Christian Pendant - Antiqued Reversible St. Patrick and St. Bridget Necklace Pendant Medal

Christian Pendant - Antiqued Reversible St. Patrick and St. Bridget Necklace Pendant Medal

Christian Pendant - Antiqued Reversible St. Patric more...0 points

New St. Patricks Day Erin Go Bragh Braugh Irish Tam Hat

New St. Patricks Day Erin Go Bragh Braugh Irish Tam Hat

Erin Go Bragh (also commonly spelled Erin Go Braug more...0 points

Sterling Silver St. Patrick Medal 15/16

Sterling Silver St. Patrick Medal 15/16" X 5/8" (24 mm X 16 mm).

This good looking St. Patrick medal has the saint more...0 points

LIGHTED SHAMROCK ST. PATRICK'S DAY OUTDOOR DECORATIONS

LIGHTED SHAMROCK ST. PATRICK'S DAY OUTDOOR DECORATIONS

NEW LIGHTED SHAMROCK INDOOR/OUTDOOR Add a touch of more...0 points

American St. Patrick's Day Celebrations


In America, the first celebration of St. Patrick's Day occurred in 1737 and was sponsored by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston, Massachusetts. Interestingly, this was a Protestant organization which was founded to assist sick, homeless and unemployed Irishmen.

New York City holds the largest St. Patrick's Day celebration which began in 1762 as a proud display of Irish heritage. Each year, as many as two hundred thousand people take part in this massive, wearin' o' the green.

Reference: Charles Panati, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things

 

St. Patrick's Day on eBay

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St. Patrick's Day in the Morning

St. Patrick's Day in the Morning (Clarion books)

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St. Patrick's Day on CafePress

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Irish Curse

New Orleans Celebrations

Irish Channel


Like New York City, New Orleans was a immigration point for many Irish people. The section of the city called the Irish Channel is the center of the St. Patrick's Day celebration. Although there are parades all over the New Orleans Metro area, the one in the Irish Channel around Parosal's Restaurant and Bar is the largest and most colorful.

The first Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day celebration committee was organized in 1947. The committee still exists, despite some decline in the area and currently has a membership of over fourteen hundred. Each year the celebration begins with a mass before the parade. The parade, which contains hundreds of men in formal attire giving green beads and flowers, proceeds up Magazine Street, and is usually held on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day.

 

St. Paddy's Day in the Irish Channel Vid

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St. Patrick Apostle

St. Patrick: Apostle Of Ireland

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New Orleans St. Patrick's Day Parade Schedule

St. Patrick Designs at Zazzle by naturegirl7


Designs by naturegirl7

Shamrock Green Tie tie Good Health Irish Blessing Mug mug Kitten Dax Irish T-Shirt shirt St. Patrick Shamrock Button button

 

New Orleans St. Paddy's Day

More New Orleans St. Patrick's Day Vids

St. Patricks Parade New Orleans 2008 0 points

St. Patricks Parade New Orleans 2008 0 points

Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

Lets Celebrate St Patricks Day

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St. Patrick's Day Children's Books on Amazon

Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever by Teddy Slater

Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever by Teddy Slater

The St. Patrick's Day parade is off to a very fine more...0 points

It's St. Patrick's Day (Scholastic Readers) by Rebecca Gomez

It's St. Patrick's Day (Scholastic Readers) by Rebecca Gomez

It's St. Patrick's Day follows two children as they more...0 points

Hooray for St. Patrick's Day! (Lift-the-Flap, Puffin) by Joan Holub

Hooray for St. Patrick's Day! (Lift-the-Flap, Puffin) by Joan Holub

It's Saint Patrick's Day, and time to join in the more...0 points

The Night Before St. Patrick's Day (Reading Railroad) by Natasha Wing

The Night Before St. Patrick's Day (Reading Railroad) by Natasha Wing

It's the night before St. Patrick's Day, and Tim a more...0 points

St. Patrick's Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Carmen Bredeson

St. Patrick's Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Carmen Bredeson

The popular Rookie Books expand their horizons - t more...0 points

A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski

A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski

WELCOME TO THE rival towns of Tralee and Tralah, w more...0 points

The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan

The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan

In the time of the Irish potato famine, Fergus and more...0 points

Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day by Alice Schertle

Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day by Alice Schertle

Shy Jeremy Bean forgets, much as to his humiliatio more...0 points

Crafts For St. Patrick'S Day (Holiday Crafts for Kids) by Kathy Ross

Crafts For St. Patrick'S Day (Holiday Crafts for Kids) by Kathy Ross

Presents twenty simple craft projects including a more...0 points

Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols by Edna Barth

Shamrocks, Harps, and Shillelaghs: The Story of the St. Patrick's Day Symbols by Edna Barth

Shamrocks, shillelaghs, reed pipes, and leprechaun more...0 points

The Leprechaun Trap: A family tradition for Saint Patrick's Day by Kelly Clinch

The Leprechaun Trap: A family tradition for Saint Patrick's Day by Kelly Clinch

A children's book that tells the story of the naug more...0 points

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Irish Party Music 

Irish Party Music

Amazon Price: $10.98 (as of 02/15/2012)Buy Now

Some jaunty tunes for celebrating St. Paddy's Day.