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ST. PATRICK’S DAY

The history of the holiday

Who is Saint Patrick?

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland , although he was actually born in England. As a youth he was taken prisoner by the Irish and held in captivity there for six years. During that time he became a devout Christian. It is said that he heard God’s voice, which helped him escape captivity, and that later he had visions of an angel, who told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. It is widely believed that Patrick was the one who introduced Christianity to Ireland . It is also believed that he died on March 17 , which is how St. Patrick’s Day was born.

Why do people wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?

Traditionally, the color green represents Ireland, or the Emerald Isle. However, according to legend the color green also has the magical power to make people invisible to leprechauns or other fairy creatures. That means that wearing green can save you from getting pinched by these mischievous fairies. If you don’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, watch out!

Why shamrocks?

In ancient Ireland a shamrock was

a symbol of the rebirth of spring , and was considered a sacred plant. In the 1600s the shamrock became a symbol of Irish nationalism . During the time when the English were invading Irish land, people would wear shamrocks as

a symbol of their heritage .

QUIZ

We wish you

1. When do the English celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

• the 17th of August
• the 14th of February
• the 12th of April
• the 17th of March
• the 16th of May

2. Who is Saint Patrick?

• The one who introduced Christianity to Ireland.
• The first missionary in Ireland.
• The God of England.
• The ruler of Ireland.

3. Why do people wear green on this day?

• They’re happy to meet the beginning of summer.
• According to legend, it has the magical power to make people invisible to leprechauns.
• It’s the favourite colour of all Irish people.
• Green means kindness and generosity.

4. If you find a shamrock with four leaves on this day, it’s for good luck.

5. Nowadays this holiday is celebrated only in Ireland.

6. The Americans paint their rivers in green on St. Patrick’s day.

7. People don’t work on this day.

Can you match the joke with the punchline?

8. What do you call a) Some poor horse is

a fake stone in Ireland? going barefoot.

9. Why do frogs like b) A rainbow!

St. Patrick’s Day? c) A sham rock!

10. What kind of bow d) Because they’re

can’t be tied? always green.

11. What does it mean

when you find a

horseshoe?

Answers

1. d 8. c

2. a 9. d

3. b 10. b

4. yes 11. a

5. no

6. yes

7. yes

Hometask

Did You Know: One of the most famous contributions of traditional Irish culture is their knot designs. They typically consist of one segment of line twisted into an ornate shape or a few geometrical shapes overlapped to create a complex design. Use the cut-out shapes to create your own design.