Who Was St. Patrick Anyway??

I never really understood the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day until recently.  I always thought to myself "As far as I know, I'm not Irish....and I don't drink....so what's the point?"  Until now I thought that St. Patrick's Day was just an annoying holiday where people get drunk and pinch you if you don't wear green....neither of which I enjoy!  I started doing some research and realized that although it has been turned into these things, it originally started as a Christian holiday!

St. Patrick was actually the son of a Christian deacon who originally considered himself a pagan.  At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.  During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian.  After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped.  Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. St. Patrick died on March 17th, and thus we celebrate him on this day!

One more interesting bit of history.  Do you know the real significance behind the "lucky shamrock"? 

Supposedly, it was used by St. Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the trinity.  Pretty interesting, huh? 

Ok, enough with the history....on to some pictures and video of my own little leprechaun on her first St. Patrick's Day....