Show HISTORY SAINT PATRICKS PATRICK'S DAY DAY March March L 17 For many years the birthday P LP of Saint Patrick has been celebrated ed cd in this country The first record recorded recorded L Led ed celebration in this country was held in Boston by the Charitable S Irish Society in 1775 Four years later in New York the th Friendly Sons of St. St Patrick of that city ob observed ob-I ob observed served the day The movement spread and Within a few years the day was being observed in most of the larger cities The celebrations usually consist of dinners and speeches and in some cases es Cs St. St Patrick according to the best information was born at Kil- Kil Kilpatrick patrick ptrick near near neak Dumbarton Scotland in m His father was a member of ofa I Ia a Roman family at high rank and held an office under the Roman government in Gaul or Britain At Atthe Atthe the age of sixteen young Patrick was captured by Irish and sold as a slave to to toan an Irish chief chie chieftain ain tain a high hi h priest in the present county of Antrim He remained with his master for six years when he escaped to Britain Arriving in Britain he decided to devote him him- himself himself himself self to religious work and located in a a monastery at Tours France Upon completion com of his studies he was commissioned by the Pope to work in Ireland He lie was opposed by the Druids and sought a more friendly part of the country lie He went vent to his old master and paid the price of his freedom and so the legend goes converted the man and his family to Christianity lie He preached and taugh and worked in Ireland for many years building and organizing churches He lie e was prosecuted by the Druids taken captive many times and was once condemned to death His death oc oc- occurred occurred oc- oc occurred March 17 Many traditions traditions traditions have grown up about the life ILfe of oC St. St Patrick the most familiar of which is the story of his eviction of the snakes from Ireland |