This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/st-patrick-day-2017-today-ireland-google-doodle-patron-saint-why-wear-green-shamrock-pinch-how-did-a7634906.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| St Patrick’s Day today: Who was Ireland's patron saint? Why wear green? Why do you pinch someone? | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| St Patrick’s Day - For many people around the world it means felt leprechaun costumes, slanderous stereotypes and Guinness shirt stains. | St Patrick’s Day - For many people around the world it means felt leprechaun costumes, slanderous stereotypes and Guinness shirt stains. |
| However, March 17 only recently became synonymous with parades, painfully pun cocktails and green rivers. | However, March 17 only recently became synonymous with parades, painfully pun cocktails and green rivers. |
| To get the skinny on this annual Irish celebration – here are four key questions we all want to know the answer to. | To get the skinny on this annual Irish celebration – here are four key questions we all want to know the answer to. |
| 1) Who was St Patrick? | 1) Who was St Patrick? |
| Little is known about St Patrick but according to folklore – He was probably born in Wales around 387AD before being kidnapped by Irish pirates aged 14. | Little is known about St Patrick but according to folklore – He was probably born in Wales around 387AD before being kidnapped by Irish pirates aged 14. |
| As the legend dictates, St Patrick became an enslaved pig and sheep herder. | As the legend dictates, St Patrick became an enslaved pig and sheep herder. |
| Accordingly he was returned to Wales by kind sailors aged 20. It was then he allegedly received a divine vision from God calling on him to become the ‘Voice of Ireland’. | Accordingly he was returned to Wales by kind sailors aged 20. It was then he allegedly received a divine vision from God calling on him to become the ‘Voice of Ireland’. |
| On returning to Ireland as a free man, he evangelised converting thousands of pagans to Christianity and establishing churches. | On returning to Ireland as a free man, he evangelised converting thousands of pagans to Christianity and establishing churches. |
| Other legends surround St Patrick include banishing all snakes from the island –this is in fact an allegory of his struggles against the Druids. | Other legends surround St Patrick include banishing all snakes from the island –this is in fact an allegory of his struggles against the Druids. |
| He is traditionally thought to have died on March 17 – explaining the choice of date. | He is traditionally thought to have died on March 17 – explaining the choice of date. |
| 2) Why do we pinch people on March 17? | 2) Why do we pinch people on March 17? |
| Pinching people on St Patrick’s day is thought to revolve around the leprechaun and the legend that wearing green makes one invisible to the mischievous fairies. | Pinching people on St Patrick’s day is thought to revolve around the leprechaun and the legend that wearing green makes one invisible to the mischievous fairies. |
| As the dubious legend dictates, leprechauns would pinch anyone not wearing green – so people pinch those not wearing green to remind them… | As the dubious legend dictates, leprechauns would pinch anyone not wearing green – so people pinch those not wearing green to remind them… |
| 3) What is the importance of shamrocks? | 3) What is the importance of shamrocks? |
| This tradition goes back to St Patrick himself. The Patron saint is purported to have used the three leafed shamrock as an illustration of the Holy Trinity. | This tradition goes back to St Patrick himself. The Patron saint is purported to have used the three leafed shamrock as an illustration of the Holy Trinity. |
| 4) Why do people wear green? | 4) Why do people wear green? |
| Ignoring the leprechaun thing – the Irish connection to the colour green is thought to only go back as far as the late 18th century, reports Time. | Ignoring the leprechaun thing – the Irish connection to the colour green is thought to only go back as far as the late 18th century, reports Time. |
| Green became synonymous with the non-sectarian Irish republican cause and wearing the colour on March 17th first became a tradition in 19th century New York among the growing Irish immigrant population. | Green became synonymous with the non-sectarian Irish republican cause and wearing the colour on March 17th first became a tradition in 19th century New York among the growing Irish immigrant population. |