Hi, Friends, Thank you very much for your great supports and help to my work on the web site via letters, pictures, videos, telephones and so on. Now, I would like to publish an article by Mr. Jonny Fox who is from Ireland St. Patrick's Day and I really hope what he has offered is helpful to you to know more about Ireland cultures. :-)

Is there any similar customs in your cultures? Is there anything interesting and unique in your culture?

If you would like to share anything fun and positive from your cultures here, if you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum. too. :-)

--Shirley
Sat, March 25, 2006


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Hi Shirley

As you may have known, March 17th is St. Patrick's Day
here in Ireland. It's our national holiday.

So, I've included a little more information about St. Patrick for you:


A Profile Of Patrick
All You Need To Know

Name: Maewyn Succat (He adopted Patrick or Patricius
upon becoming a priest)

Nationality: Roman Briton

Born: Around 415 AD

Travels: At the age of 16 he was brought to Ireland.
He later returned to his home in Wales, travelled to
France and eventually came back to Ireland.

Died:March 17th, 493 (Disputed)

Education: Very little in his early life. He later
trained as a cleric in France

Occupation: Sheep herder for Milchu on Slemish
Mountain in Co Antrim and later preacher, baptiser and
bishop

Achievements: Posthumously became Ireland's patron
saint Responsible for the conversion of the island to
Christianity

Publications: Epistle to Coroticus Confessio

Interests/hobbies:
Preaching
Writing
Travel
Church-building
Hillwalking - once spent forty days of Lent on Croagh
Patrick

Legacies: Pota Phadraig: Pota Phadraig (Patrick's Pot)is the name given to the measure of whiskey to be taken on Saint Patrick's Day. Tradition dictates that a shamrock be floated on the whiskey before drinking, hence the expression, 'drowning the shamrock'

The Shamrock: This was the tool reputedly used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity to convert the Irish pagans Saint Patrick's Breastplate: Also known as The Lorica, this was the hymn said to have been sung by Patrick and his followers on their pilgrimage to Tara as they attempted to put a stop to the pagan rituals.

Saint Patrick's Day Parades: Contrary to popular belief, this tradition did not originate in Ireland. The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in America was in 1737 hosted by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston. Today festive parades are held all over the world, for no more sinister purpose than raising a glass to the saint and celebrating Irishness.

The Reek: Every year thousands of pilgrims, many in bare feet, climb the 2,500 ft to the peak of Croagh Patrick, to pay homage to Saint Patrick's Christian mission in Ireland. Legend says that it was here that the saint rang his bell and the snakes of Ireland fled.

Things you didn't know about Saint Patrick: At the age of sixteen, shortly before he was taken into captivity, "he committed a fault which appears not to have been a great crime, yet was to him a subject of tears during the rest of his life". (from Butler, Lives of the Saints) He was tremendously conscious about his lack of education and often refers to his inability to express his thoughts clearly in his Confessio. (from Simms, The Real Story of Saint Patrick).

Myths about Saint Patrick:

He used a shamrock to explain the Trinity: Not true but the shamrock was traditionally worn in Ireland as a symbol of the cross.

He drove the snakes out of the country: Ireland never had snakes - but the snake metaphor was probably used later to represent paganism.

He was the first to preach the Good News in Ireland: It is known that there were Christians in Ireland before his time.

He is thought to have been born and died on his feastday, March 17th: Both claims are considered unlikely.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.
Johnny