ST PATRICK IS CELEBRATED ON 17TH EACH YEAR.

WHO WAS SAINT PATRICK?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland as he was the one who brought
Christianity to the Irish. 

According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God.  The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem.  Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity – that in the one God there are three divine beings:  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

HOW TO CELEBRATE ST PATRICK'S DAY?

  We all know some ways to celebrate St Patrick, like wear green, drink green beer, eat Irish stew... but there are many more. Watch this video and you'll find out!

 

HAVE A GREAT ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)                 
In the UK it is the last Tuesday before Lent (time of abstinence, of giving things up); so it is the last chance to indulge yourself, and eat all that food that you aren't allowed to eat in Lent. Pancake are eaten because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN IRELAND:
There are two main languages used in Ireland.

Irish (Gaeilge) is a Celtic language historically spoken by the Irish people in Ireland. Irish is now spoken as a first language only by a small minority of the Irish population, and as a second language by a larger minority. However, it is widely considered to be an important part of the island's culture and heritage. Under the British  rule Irish was forbidden, but in the last century it has been taught in all the schools in the country.

Irish language 

Irish English is the variety of English which is spoken in Ireland. English became an official language under the British rule and it is the language most of the Irish speak every day.
 Under Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Irish constitution, both English and Irish have official status, with Irish being the national and first official language.

Irish accent

IRISH SYMBOLS:

The Irish Flag: the Tricolour





The Irish Flag has three vertical strips of green, white and orange and was first used in 1848. It's colours held important significance for the political situation in Ireland at the time. The green represented the Catholic majority while the orange was the colour of the Protestant population. The middle stripe of white symbolised a hope of peace or unity between the two.

 

The Shamrock

 

 

Simply put, a shamrock is a single-stemmed plant with three leaves growing from that single stem. It grows in quantity on the hills of Ireland. More importantly, it has become a kind of unofficial symbol of Ireland, featured on postcards and souvenirs.

It was probably made most famous by St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. He used the shamrock to help explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity to the pagans, in his quest to bring Christianity to the country. Today, it remains a strong symbol of his life in our yearly St. Patrick's Day celebrations, on the 17th of March. Most Irish people will wear a small quantity of shamrock on that day and many will engage in the time-honored tradition of "drowning the shamrock" - taking a few drinks (preferably Guinness) in the local pub.

 

The Celtic Cross

 

This large cross is a mixture of the traditional Christian cross and the pagan worship of the sun. Each cross is intricately carved with images from the Bible and Celtic symbols like knots and spirals.

 

The Leprechaun

 

Th legend of the leprechaun has never quite left Ireland. Traditionally dressed in green with a cocked hat and leather apron, he is about 2 feet tall and possesses a pot of gold. If you can find a leprechaun and keep him in your sight he must tell you where the gold is. While many have claimed to see a leprechaun (usually after a long day in the pub!) his existence has yet to be proven.

 

The Harp

 

The harp has long been the traditional symbol of Ireland. The musicians of ancient chieftains played the harp and today we'll see it on coins, the presidential flag, uniforms, state seals and so on. The Celtic harp is said to stand for immortality of the soul.

The Claddagh Ring

 

Probably the most famous of Irish jewellery, the Claddagh ring has a long and rich history. Earliest examples of the ring date back to the 1700s and link the ring to the ancient fishing village of Claddagh just outside the walls of the City of Galway.

                                                                                                                                          © Irene Togher