The Young Chronicle: For Grade 3 March 20th, 2015 | Page 2

YOUNG CHRONICLE

THE YOUNG CHRONICLE
WHEN IS ST. PATRICK'S DAY?
St. Patrick's day is celebrated each year on march 17th.st. Patrick's day is an Irish holiday celebrated all around
the world to honour the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. This day marks the accepted date of Saint Patrick's
death in 460 AD.
Who was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born in wales around 390 AD. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped from his native land of
the roman British Isles by a band pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. Saint Patrick worked as a shepherd
and turned to religion for comfort. During his captivity he became a Christian and adopted the name Patrick. After
six years of slavery he escaped to the Irish coast and fled home to Britain.
While back in his homeland, Patrick decided to become a priest. Patrick wanted to return to Ireland after
dreaming that the voices of the Irish people were calling him to convert them to Christianity.
After studying and preparing for several years, Patrick travelled back to Ireland as a Christian missionary. St. Patrick’s feast day
became an official celebration in the 17th century. He is credited for bringing the religion of Christianity to Ireland.
Legend says that St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the Irish. He used the clover to represent three separate
parts (3 leaves of the clover) of the same being. The first leaf was god the father, second leaf the son and the third leaf the holy
spirit.

ST. PATRICKS’ DAY LEGENDS: THE LEAVES AND THE LEPRECHAUNS LEAVES

According to legend, finding a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick’s day will bring you
luck. Each clover leaf represents something different. First leaf represents hope,
second leaf represents faith, third leaf represents love and the fourth leaf represents
luck.

LEPRECHAUNS

A Leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore. They store their coins in a hidden pot
of gold at the end of the rainbow. If a Leprechaun is caught by a human they have
special powers to grant that human three wishes in exchange for their freedom.
Legend says that leprechauns are shoemakers by profession. Apparently, they dance
the irish jig so much they wear out their shoes! Some legends say leprechaun carry
one gold coin for every year they have been alive.

ST. PADDY’S DAY TRIVIA

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The highest number of leaves found on a shamrock clover was 14. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The original colour for St. Patrick was blue. In Irish legends and stories green was worn by fairies. It was believed that wearing green would
help make a good growing season for crops in Ireland. Green became the colour for St. Patrick’s Day in the early 19th century.
The Irish flag is green, white and orange. Green represents the people of the South, Orange represents the people of the North and White
represents the peace that brings the North and South together.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are held not only in Ireland but around the world in countries such as Canada, Japan, Montserrat, New Zealand,
Australia, Russia, Great Britain, Argentina, Switzerland, South Korea and United States.
Many American states have parades. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was not in Ireland but in Boston. The Boston parade started in 1737!
In Chicago, the Chicago River is temporarily dyed green in honour of St. Patrick’s Day!