What does St. Patrick’s Day mean to me? St. Patrick’s Day is not about going to bars to drink beers, wearing green clothes or pointing at people who do not wear green clothes. It is about reflecting on a saint named Patrick, a Romano-Briton Christian who was kidnapped from Wales at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland to become a shepherd. Six years later, he returned to his homeland to reunite with his family. While attending church, he decided to become a priest in Ireland to take care of animals and people who were ill. After fulfilling his services as a priest in Ireland, St. Patrick died in AD 470 on March 17. This is the reason that March 17 is known as St. Patrick’s Day: to remember the priest who took care of people in another country with humility. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated not only in Ireland and in America, but also around the world.
In Nigeria, people who are Christians, including Catholics, go to church on St. Patrick’s Day to pray for his assistance when they need help or want members of their families to be healed. Additionally, if a boy is born on St. Patrick’s Day, he is called Patrick. For instance, my uncle, who is also my godfather, was born on St. Patrick’s Day. That is the reason he was named Patrick. If it is a girl who is born on that day, she is called Patricia.
Yvonne: You do a nice job here of re-focusing St. Patrick's Day. Too often we think of green beer and Dollar-Store "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" hats when we think of this day.
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