With spring just around the corner, many people across Canada will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day today. Born in Roman Britain, St. Patrick was kidnapped at sixteen by Irish raiders and spent six years in captivity in Ireland. Following his release, St. Patrick converted to Christianity and returned to the Emerald Isle as a missionary. He died on March 17, 461.
Initially largely forgotten, the legend and mythology around St. Patrick grew as the centuries passed. One of these legends stated that St. Patrick had used the shamrock, or three-leaf clover, to explain the Christian holy trinity to listeners. In the 18th century, people in Ireland began wearing shamrocks as a show of pride in their Christian heritage. Over time, this practice grew into the larger trend of wearing green as a more general expression of Irish cultural pride. Today, celebrations are held across the world, most notably in North America, with Montreal’s parade Canada’s largest, drawing an average of around 600,000 spectators each year.
We at NorthBridge Consultants wish everyone out there celebrating today a safe and happy holiday!
