Celebrating our Diversity: St. Patrick's Day ☘️




Celebrating our Diversity: St. Patrick's Day ☘️
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National Days

It's time to celebrate another of our Founding Nations on March 17th with St. Patrick's Day ☘️☘️☘️.

St Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of St Patrick (Lá Fhéile Phádraig), is a global celebration of Irish culture held on March 17th. This is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, who administered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís (parties), and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.


The Shamrock

 
A Shamrock

According to legend, Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans.

The shamrock, a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries. It was called the “seamroy” by the Celts and was considered a sacred plant that symbolized the arrival of spring.

Did you know? The color traditionally associated with St. Patrick was blue, not green.

Leprechauns

One icon of the Irish holiday is the Leprechaun. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. 

St Patrick's Day Parades

While people in Ireland had celebrated St. Patrick since the 1600s, the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day parade began in America and actually predates the founding of the United States. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
 

Special Menu

EP Catering team celebrating St Patrick's Day in 2018

This year our EP students will be treated to a special Irish themed menu prepared by our wonderful DeliSchools team on Weds March 17th. They will have a choice of;

  • Irish Beef Stew with roasted potato and confit carrot; or
  • Shepherd's Pie with mixed salad and garlic bread; or
  • Potato Reuben Fritters with thousand island and mixed salad
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Note: Additional facts sourced from The History Channel.