Who was Saint Patrick? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 76

Family:

father: Calpurnius

mother: Conchessa

siblings: Darerca of Ireland

Born Country: Romania

Saints British Men

Died on: March 17, 461

place of death: County Down

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1

When is Saint Patrick's Day celebrated?

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, every year.
2

What is the significance of the shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day?

The shamrock is a symbol of Ireland and is associated with Saint Patrick, who used it to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.
3

What is the history behind Saint Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick's Day celebrates the life of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.
4

Why is Saint Patrick often depicted driving snakes out of Ireland?

The legend of Saint Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland symbolizes his efforts to rid the country of pagan beliefs and convert the people to Christianity.
5

How is Saint Patrick's Day celebrated around the world?

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated with parades, wearing green attire, traditional Irish music and dances, and the consumption of Irish food and drinks like corned beef and cabbage and Guinness.

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Childhood & Early Life

Patrick was born in Great Britain to Calphernius and his wife Conchessa. He belonged to an orthodox family, which ardently followed Christianity. While his grandfather worked as a priest, the young lad’s father worked as a Deacon.

It’s believed that Patrick was an atheist during his younger days. However, an incident which occurred during his teens changed his opinion on the existence of god completely.

The teenager was apparently kidnapped by a few pirates of Irish origin when he was hardly 16 years old, and detained him in their country for a period of six years. Patrick had once stated that it was the mercy of almighty that helped him survive through those tough days.

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Later Life

After being arrested for six years, Patrick managed to reach the Irish shore and convinced the captain of the ship to help him reach his mother land. He finally reached his folks settled in Britain after braving starvation for days. The young man then converted to Christianity.

Patrick had once mentioned that an individual named Victoricus had once appeared in his dream. The latter requested the young man to visit Ireland and even handed him six letters.

Paying heed to Victoricus’ request, the young man travelled to Ireland once again. He first arrived at a county named Wicklow, located in the coastal region of the nation.

It is believed that his arrival was disliked by the inhabitants of Ireland during his early days as a missionary, but his thoughts were later widely accepted. His teachings soon made him really popular amongst the Irish masses.

The masses got to witness the furious side of this missionary when he penned the ‘Letter to the Soldiers of Corticus’, in which Patrick sharply criticized this individual named Corticus who captured his believers and well-wishers. The missionary even compared Corticus with the ‘Devil’.

According to a popular Irish legend, the missionary had executed all the snakes in Ireland. One such reptile had apparently disturbed Patrick during his fast which angered the spiritual leader and provoked the man to confine them to the sea.

Many people still believe that one of the reasons behind the non-existence of snakes in Ireland is the fury of Patrick.

His faith in Christianity even encouraged Patrick to travel to France, where he spent some time with a missionary named St. Germain. The latter even helped Patrick become a saint.

Another popular belief is that the missionary was often seen with a walking stick, which he once cemented at a spot in Aspatria, Ireland. It is said that the stick later grew into a tree.

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Major Works

According to legends, it was Patrick who had enlightened Irish citizens about the ‘Holy Trinity’. He drew a comparison between the ‘Shamrock’, a set of three clover leaves and the thought of three individuals existing in a single entity titled god. The three-leaf symbol is respected even till date.

Personal Life & Legacy

Saint Patrick is known for writing an autobiography titled ‘Confessio’, which continues to be a very popular book even today.

He passed away in the Saul county, located in Ireland and was later buried at the same place.

Many of the possessions of the saint are now found in the ‘National Museum of Ireland’. Amongst these valuables, the famous one is a bell, which is famously known as the ‘Saint Patrick’s Bell’.

The 17th of March is celebrated as ‘Feast day’ across the world, in honour of this great saint.

Facts About Saint Patrick

Saint Patrick was not actually of Irish descent, but was born in Britain.

Legend has it that Saint Patrick used the three-leaf clover, or shamrock, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

It is said that Saint Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland, but in reality, Ireland never had any snakes to begin with.

Saint Patrick is believed to have used bonfires to celebrate Easter, which may have inspired the tradition of lighting bonfires on Saint Patrick's Day.

Saint Patrick Biography

You wanted to know

When is Saint Patrick's Day celebrated?

What is the significance of the shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day?

What is the history behind Saint Patrick's Day?

Why is Saint Patrick often depicted driving snakes out of Ireland?

How is Saint Patrick's Day celebrated around the world?