St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish. He was born about 389 A.D. in Northern Wales, which at that time may have been part of England or Scotland.

Saint Patrick had an adventurous life. He was captured by pirates at the age of 16. The Irish pirates brought him to Ireland to tend the flocks of a chieftain in Ulster. Six years of slavery made him a devoted Christian. He escaped to France and became a monk. In 432, he returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop. He brought Christianity to Ireland and taught there for 29 years. He used the shamrock, a 3 leaf clover, (Ireland's national flower) to explain the Blessed Trinity. St. Patrick founded 365 churches, baptized over 120,000 people and consecrated 450 bishops.

Many tales were told about this popular saint. One of the most popular legends was how he charmed all the snakes of Ireland down to the seashore to be drowned by the water. According to some Irish writings, St. Patrick died on March 17, 461 A.D. The anniversary of his death is celebrated as St. Patrick's Day. It's interesting to note that the shamrock clover flowers around that time of year.

Today St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish as well as many others with parades, parties, wearing of the color green, Irish songs and jigs. People wear green on this day to represent the lushness of Ireland - The Emerald Isle

Respond to the following questions:

1. What country is St. Patrick associated with?
2. Why is the shamrock special on St. Patrick's Day?
3. Why do people wear green on St. Patrick's Day?
4. What will you do for St. Patrick's Day? How will you celebrate?

Vocabulary

To tend – cuidar de
Flocks - rebaños
Devoted – devote
Monk – monje
Shamrock – trébol
Blessed Trinity – la Santísima Trinidad
To baptize – bautizar
To consecrate – consagrar
To charm – encantar
To drown – ahogar
Jig – un baile
Lushness – exuberancia de vegetación

Looking at the pictures that you can see, write a caption (a short sentence) for each one.