It’s a day of green and a day celebrating all things of Ireland — but who was St. Patrick and why do we celebrate him?

While it is a secular holiday here in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day was observed as a religious holiday in Ireland and has been seen as such for more than 1,000 years. According to history.com, Saint Patrick is Ireland’s national apostle. He is credited with bringing Christianity to the island. 

Patrick was born in Britain — that’s right! He wasn’t Irish! — but was kidnapped at the age of 16 by Irish raiders and became a slave in Ireland. He spent six years there as a herdsman before he managed to escape. He had a fervent desire to bring Christianity to the Irish despite his living in constant danger of martyrdom.

After Saint Patrick’s death, which is believed to be on March 17, 461, legends surrounded the patron saint of Ireland. Some legends say that he drove the snakes of Ireland into the sea, riding the country of the creatures. Another legend states that he raised people from the dead and fed hungry soldiers. The most famous, though, is his explanation of the Holy Trinity — the Father, the Son and the Spirit — using the three leaves of the native Irish clover, the shamrock.

Now, wearing a shamrock, the national flower of Ireland, is often worn in honor of Saint Patrick on March 17. And if a little extra green is worn in Lincoln Parish today — remember a few facts about the life and legend of this man who was more than a little extraordinary.  

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