History and legend are intertwined when it comes to St. Patrick, but he definitely wasn't Irish!
Facts (maybe)
He was born around 373 in Banwen, Wales
His real name was Maewyn Succat (he was renamed Patrick when he became a priest)
He was kidnapped by pirates when he was 16 and sold as a slave in Ireland
He worked as a shepherd for the 6 years he was a slave
He escaped, went to France and became a priest
He went back to Ireland to spread Christianity when he was about 60 years old
Legend
St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland
He met the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rights
He converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and their subjects in the Holy Wells
He died in 493 and was buried at Downpatrick, County Down
His jaw bone was preserved in a silver shrine and used as protection against the evil eye
A second legend says St. Patrick died at Glastonbury and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Galstonbury Abbey
Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock
More St. Patrick's Day Fun
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