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
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.
Photo courtesy of Ancient Order of Hibernians
St. Patrick Irish Legend
St. Patrick: The Irish Legend
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Irish Song Medeley
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
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
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Sterling Silver St. Patrick Medal 15/16" X 5/8" (24 mm X 16 mm).
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LIGHTED SHAMROCK ST. PATRICK'S DAY OUTDOOR DECORATIONS
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St. Patrick According to Wiki
Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius) (c. 387 ? 493;The Catholic Encyclopedia.">content) (Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognised patron saint of Ireland (although Brigid of Kildare and Columba are also formally patron saints).
Two authentic letters from him survive, from which come the only universally accepted details of his life. When he was about 14 he was captured from Britain by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and there is no contemporary evidence for any link between Patrick and any known church building.
By the eighth century he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish monastery system evolved after the time of Patrick and the Irish church did not develop the diocesan model that Patrick and the other early missionaries had tried to establish.
Most available details of his life are from later hagiographies from the seventh century onwards, and these are not now accepted without detailed criticism. Uncritical acceptance of the Annals of Ulster would imply that he lived from 340 to 440, and ministered in what is modern day northern Ireland from 428 onwards. The dates of Patricks life cannot be fixed with certainty, but on a widespread interpretation he was active as a missionary in Ireland during the second half of the fifth century.
Saint Patrick's Day (17 March) is celebrated both in and outside of Ireland, as both a liturgical and non-liturgical holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland it is a both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation and outside of Ireland, it can be a celebration of Ireland itself.
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
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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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Shamrock St. Patrick Value T-shirt
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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
St. Patrick's Church New Orleans
New Orleans from St. Patrick's Church 1852 (Reprint measured in inches 24 x 19)
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2009 New Orleans St. Patrick's Day Parade Schedule
Schedule Courtesy of NOLA.com
Sunday, March 8
Irish-Italian-Islenos Community Parade
1 p.m., Chalmette, Website
43 floats with 1600 riders have committed for this year's event. The route starts at the Old WalMart turns right on Judge Perez to Dr. Meraux makes a u-turn and heads to Chalmette High School then makes another u-turn and finishes back at the Old WalMart.
Friday, March 13
Jim Monaghan's Annual Irish Parade
6:00 p.m., French Quarter, Website
Annual St. Patrick's Day parade through the French Quarter features local celebrities and musicians begins and ends at Molly's at the Market, 1107 Decatur St.
Saturday, March 14
Irish Channel St. Pat's Parade
12:00 p.m., Uptown/Irish Channel, More info
Annual parade along Magazine St. around New Orleans' Irish Channel. Parade goers are traditionally pelted with produce (cabbages, potatoes, etc.) from Mardi Gras sized floats.
Italian-American St. Joseph's Day parade
6:00 p.m., French Quarter, Website
The parade resumes its 2005 route, beginning at Canal Street and Chartres; proceeding down Chartres to St. Peter; left on St. Peter to Royal Street; right at Bienville to Bourbon Street; Another right onto Bourbon Street down to St. Ann. Finally, the parade will turn onto St. Ann and proceed back to Royal Street and take Royal back to Canal. Grand Marshall: Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior). Returning Marshall: VIncent Pastori and James Darine.
Sunday, March 15
Mardi Gras Indian's Super Sunday
Be forewarned that this is only the date being circulated amongst those claiming to be in the know and it has been canceled in the past due to bad weather as well as a number of other reasons. Former NOLA.com producer Alex Oliver penned a synopsis of the event several years back.
St. Patrick's Parade
Noon, Metairie, 504-731-7083, More info
Metairie's annual Irish parade feature Mardi Gras-style floats and trucks. Parade goers will be able to grab cabbages and other vegetables, as well as beads and flowers. The parade runs down the length of Metairie Road in Old Metairie. Parking can usually be found on the "Lakeside" Metairie Road and the Interstate.
Slidell St. Patrick's Day
Slidell St. Patrick's Day Parade Starts at City Hall, 1, and follows the traditional route through Olde Towne to City Avenue, Front Street, Carey to Pontchartrain Drive, Front, Robert and onto First Street, ending at First and Erlanger streets, presented by the Olde Towne Merchants Association.
Tuesday, March 17
Parasol's St. Patrick's Day Block Party
Parasol's Restaurant & Bar, corner of Third and Constance Streets. Website. The green beer and Guinness flow at this annual St. Pat's bash in the Irish Channel.
St. Patrick's day at Pat O's
5:00 p.m., Pat O'Briens, 718 St. Peter St. Website
The ultimate Irish place! All day drink specials and promos, givaways and the Wise Guys will be rocking the house from 5 - 9 p.m. Of course, the Piano lounge will be in full swing and the restaurant will have Irish lunch specials.
Downtown Irish Club Parade
6:30 p.m., Bywater/French Quarter 504-943-0785
The annual downtown St. Patrick's Day parade begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety in the Bywater, proceeds roughly up Royal, across Esplanade to Decatur, up Bienville to Bourbon. The parade makes several "pit stops" on its way to Bourbon St.
Irish Channel Block Party
Annunciation Square, across from St. Michael's Special School. The St. Patrick's Day festival benefits the school with food and drink, music and Irish dancers, 10 a.m.-6 Mon. Admission is free. Off-street parking available.
Sunday, March 22
Irish-Italian Parade
Noon, Metairie, 504-731-7083, Website
Featuring Mardi Gras-style floats and trucks, parade goers will be able to grab cabbages and other vegetables, as well as beads and flowers.
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New Orleans St. Paddy's Day
Let's Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
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St. Patrick's Day Children's Books on Amazon
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
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Hooray for St. Patrick's Day! (Lift-the-Flap, Puffin) by Joan Holub
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The Night Before St. Patrick's Day (Reading Railroad) by Natasha Wing
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St. Patrick's Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays) by Carmen Bredeson
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A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski
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The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan
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Jeremy Bean's St. Patrick's Day by Alice Schertle
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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
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The Leprechaun Trap: A family tradition for Saint Patrick's Day by Kelly Clinch
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More Louisiana Celebration Lenses
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Mardi Gras on the NorthShore
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If you enjoy Mardi Gras, but don't want to brave the hustle and bustle of New Orleans, then Carnival on the North Shore is the place for you and your family. There are plenty of parades, masking and throws and the pace is much slower and more family...
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Mardi Gras in Louisiana
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Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana is filled with lots of free fun. The parades are still rolling in the Big Easy, as well as on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. New Orleans Mardi Gras is steeped in tradition with its King Cakes, Krewes, Gran...
Leave us something for luck.
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Reply
- tandemonimom tandemonimom Feb 25, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
- I want to know the origin of pinching anyone who doesn't wear green! :-D Great lens, wonderful stories about Patrick! 5*
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Reply
- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Feb 19, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
- Well, this is one heck of a great green lens. I can tell that a lot of work went into it. Good Job!
Brenda
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Reply
- rio1 rio1 Feb 17, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
- Enlightening & entertaining lens. Is there anything that does not warrant New Orleanians parading for? :>) What a fun loving city!
St. Patrick's Day Links
Saint Patricks Cathedral
Welcome to the Saint Patrick's Cathedral's website more...0 points
St. Patrick - Saint of the Day - American Catholic
Each saint the Church honors responded to God's in more...0 points
St. Patrick's Day
2009 Saint Patricks Day Parades & everything a more...0 points
Official St. Patrick's Festival 2009, Thursday 12th - Tuesday 17th ...
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Welcome to the Saint Patrick Centre - world centre for Irelands ...
The centre is an exciting interpretative exhibitio more...0 points
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