Every March 17,folks bring out their best green outfits to wear, confident that they are fullof the St. Patrick’s Day spirit and protected from endless pinching.
“Most of thegreen I have in my closet was bought during March,” said Reggie Williams, ajunior from Omaha, Neb.
The story ofhow St. Patrick’s Day came about is full of myths and legends.
“I alwaysthought it dealt with Irish independence,” said Raushana Johnson, a freshmanfrom Houston.
St. Patrick’sDay is a holiday that celebrates St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, andhis religious feast day and his death. While St. Patrick accomplished great things for the Irish, itis a little known fact that he was not born in Ireland.
St. Patrick wasactually born in Britain, staying there until around the age of 16.
During thistime, Irish raiders attacked his village. They captured him and took back to Ireland and to sell him intoslavery. He escaped six yearslater with a stronger faith and a calling from God to convert the pagans ofIreland to Christianity. According to another version of the Irish folklore,St. Patrick also drove all snakes out of Ireland. But some people think thestory is just a metaphoric way of explaining the conversion of the pagans. Whatever the case, to many St.Patrick’s Day participants, the holiday is a day to enjoy.
Once he becamesecond bishop to Ireland, St. Patrick had little trouble converting themasses. For this same reason, hewas disliked by the authorities and arrested many times. He escaped each time though, buildingchurches and schools as he made his way across the country. After 30 years, St.Patrick achieved his goal of converting the Irish to a Christian people. He died on March 17, in the year 461A.D. and ever since people have paid homage to him with his dedicated day knownas St. Patrick’s Day.
“It’s alwaysfun for me because green is one of my favorite colors,” Johnson said.
