See how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland and the US on March 17. Learn more about St. Patrick’s Day and what are the roots of this interesting tradition.
Above: St. Patrick’s Day. A day when everyone is Irish.
Who was St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born in the 4th century in England, to a Romano-British family. According to legend, as a teenager he was kidnapped by Irish invaders, after which he was forced to graze sheep there as a slave. It was then that God appeared to him and showed him the way to escape back to England.
Saint Patrick, however, returned to Ireland after some time with a mission to convert the country to Christianity. It is said that he “chased the snakes off the island” – although it is known that these amphibians have never lived on the green island. This, of course, refers to pagans.
In recognition of his merits for spreading Christianity in an uneasy land, in time he became a saint, the patron saint of Ireland.
When the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day falls. Patrick?
According to legends, Saint Patrick died on March 17. Therefore, the feast of St. St. Patrick’s Day falls on March 17.
Paddy , by the way, is a diminutive version of the name Patrick, which is why it is sometimes said instead of Saint Paddy’s Day / St. Paddy’s Day.
St Patricks’ Day, St. Patrick’s Day or Saint Patrick’s Day?
There is no consensus here among English-language editors, so we can safely assume that all these forms are correct. You can always write the word in its full, not abbreviated form. If you are referring to a specific saint, then Saint is written with a capital letter. In contrast, we usually give a period in the abstract. Some linguists, however, will say that the dot is not necessary, since the t is the last letter of the word saint.
St. Patrick’s Day – Irish or American holiday?
First celebration of St. Patric’s Day took place in… America. Around 1700 it was. A protest by Irish soldiers in New York against England’s occupation of Ireland1 . Until recently, during The Troubles, or the struggle for Northern Ireland’s independence, the parade organizers were IRA terrorists.
Interestingly, Saint Patrick’s Day is a much more popular holiday in the United States than in Ireland. On this day, it turns out that every white American has an Irish ancestor, so it is his duty to dress in green and get drunk to the point of unconsciousness, and then drive a car drunk and/or get into some kind of brawl. It is estimated that America loses $160 billion every year on Saint Patrick’s Day….
On Saint Patrick’s Day you need to know what shamrocks, shillelaghs and shenanigans are and who is a Leprechaun!
And now a few words that will be rather useful to you on St. Patric’s Day.
What is shamrock?
Shamrock is a three-leafed Irish clover, a symbol of the island. But even if you ever find yourself in the countryside and want to use the word “clover” . Shamrock is one type of clover.
What is a sheilelaghs?
Sheilelaghs are another symbol of Ireland, and thus of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Sheilelaghs is nothing more than that, a distinctive baton with a round tip that was once used to settle disputes. A folk version of a baseball bat.
What does shenanigans mean ?
It’s a colloquial, multi-purpose word that can mean scams and swipes, but in the context of St. Patrick’s Day festivities, it is more about various pranks, antics and general clowning around. And with such a lavish celebration, such a thing is not difficult to happen!
Who is a leprechaun?
Leprechaun, on the other hand, is… Leprechaun (pronounced: leprekoon), which is a distinctive gnome from Irish folklore – dressed in green, of course. Leprechauns are elf buddies and cobblers, and always have two coins in their pockets. A silver coin is used by the Leprechaun to pay. However, there is a nuance – thanks to the magical power after a good bargain always returns to the Leprechaun’s pocket. In turn, he uses the golden one to redeem himself if someone grabs this 90 centimeter gnome. Of course, she is of no use to the kidnapper either, as she soon turns to ashes.
Leprechauns know the places where treasures are buried, but are reluctant to reveal their location. Hence the saying that the Leprechaun’s treasure pot lies “on the other side of the rainbow.” – that is, it is impregnable. However, if one uses the English idiom:
- He found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
(He found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.)
It means that his dream has come true (not necessarily only in the financial aspect), which seemed impossible to everyone.
Phrases and Quotes in English for St Patrick’s Day
You can also flash any of the English phrases or quotes that are often found on commemorative postcards or memes:
- St. St. Patricks Day is like Valentines Day for people who love whiskey and bad decisions.
[There is whiskey in Ireland, while whisky is in Scotland.]
- Let’s make some poor decisions on St. Thomas. Patrick’s Day – as we do every day.
- There’s no gentle way to tell you that you’re the designated driver on St. Thomas. Patrick’s Day.
(designated driver, sometimes abbreviated to DD is a person-chosen-not-to-drink-to-take-after-the-party-the rest-of-the-team-to-home)
- I went drinking on St. Patrick’s Day, so I took a bus home…. That may not be a big deal to you, but I’ve never driven a bus before!
- May Siri be able to decipher your slurred requests for bar locations this St. Thomas. Patric’s Day!
- Happy St. Patric’s Day to my friends who are Irish, Catholic and/or alcoholic!
You may have ever been to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Are you going to be able to find St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland or the U.S.? And how was it? Share your experiences in the comments!
Speak English like St. Patrick!
Hmm, or maybe it’s better not – after all, he spoke Old English, which is more like today’s…. German language than English!
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