Saint-Patrick

OBS: Fête des Irlandais : le 17 mars.
OBS: Éviter l'expression abrégé St-Patrick.

OBS: St. Patrick's Day is observed each year on March 17. St. Patrick's Day is not an official national holiday in Canada. It is, however, a provincial holiday in Newfoundland. St. Patrick's Day invokes the spirit of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to the island. Observed as a religious occasion in Ireland, in Canada, it is often marked with festive parades and the wearing of green. It is believed that Patrick was born in Kilpatrick Scotland. When Patrick was in his early teens, he was captured during a raid and taken to Ireland as a slave. There he learned to tend and herd sheep. At this time, Druids and pagans occupied Ireland. Patrick learned the practices and language of his captors. Because of the hardships he faced, Patrick turned to God. When Patrick was twenty, God came to him in a dream and advised him to go to the coast. Patrick escaped and sailers took him back to Britain where he was reunited with his parents. But Ireland beckoned to the young man through is dreams, so Patrick entered the priesthood, was ordained as a bishop and returned to the Emerald Isle in March 433. He traveled across the country converting the people to Christianity.