Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century. He is    the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with    bringing Christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes    from his two works, the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his    Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians.    Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring    forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as    the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean    things had become the people of God."    Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true    there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been since    the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the    Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common    and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably    symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to    bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered    the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he    converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of    their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

 There are several accounts of Saint Patrick's death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the "evil eye." Another account says that Saint Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of Saint Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after Saint Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city.

Why Saint Patrick's Day?
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

In our school we celebrate St. Patrick's Day too.  It is our school's birthday, so we celebrate St. Patrick's Day both events wearing green.  We start St. Patrick's Day with a prayer at the school's grotto. Then we play games, we remember Saint Patrick's life  through different class activities. 

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!