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The shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant and a symbol of the Holy Trinity. The most common St Patrick's Day symbol is the shamrock. However, much of the interest in the St Patrick’s Day events is largely commercially driven in the 21st century. Many Irish customs, including the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, became quite popular in these countries. Many immigrants from Ireland fled to other parts of the world, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many Catholic churches traditionally move St Patrick's Day to another date if March 17 falls during Holy Week. Luke Wadding, a Franciscan scholar born in 1588 in Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland, was influential in ensuring that the anniversary of St Patrick's death became a feast day in the Catholic Church. Ireland’s other patron saints are St Brigid and St Columba. He is said to be buried under Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Ireland. The "snakes" that St Patrick banished from Ireland, may refer to the druids or pagan worshipers of snake or serpent gods. However, it is thought that there have been no snakes in Ireland since the last ice age. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and worked in the north and west of the country.Īccording to popular legend, St Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. After some years he returned to his family and entered the church, like his father and grandfather before him. He grew up in Roman Britain, but was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a young adult. He is said to have died on March 17 in or around the year 493. St Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. Therefore traffic and parking may be temporarily affected in streets and public areas where parades are held in towns and cities. St Patrick’s Day is also a festive occasion in some parts of the world where it is not a public holiday.
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St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland ( United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland. It is on Station Island in Lough Derg in County Donegal where St Patrick had a vision promising that all who came to the sanctuary in penitence and faith would receive a pardon for their sins. Some people plan a pilgrimage to St Patrick’s Purgatory, which is commonly associated with penance and spiritual healing since the early 13th century.
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Patrick's Day 2023įri, / Mon, – Canada St. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).
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