Irlanda es un país de
tradición católica y cada 17 de Marzo conmemoran la muerte de San patricio, un
misionero y sacerdote que introdujo el cristianismo en la isla. Aunque la
fiesta comenzó siendo religiosa, hoy en día es celebrada tanto por cristianos
como no cristianos por todo el mundo.
En Dublín, capital de
Irlanda, y en ciudades pobladas por irlandeses como Nueva York, Boston o
Chicago, se celebra con desfiles y tiñendo de verde las ciudades…e incluso los
ríos!!. El verde simboliza a Irlanda, también conocida como la “Isla Esmeralda”
y su símbolo, el “Shamrock” o trébol. La
celebración se extiende durante 5 a 7 días en la actualidad y durante esta
semana todo el mundo viste de verde y canta y baila al son de la música.
Durante esta semana, que celebramos del 12 al 17 de marzo, los alumnos y alumnas disfrutarán aprendiendo inglés
con actividades como pintar banderas, elaborar un pastel tricolor, cantar canciones irlandesas, investigar con el ordenador tradiciones irlandesas, etc.
Saint Patrick’s Day
Patrick was born in Britain in the year
387, in roman times. His real name is Maewyn Succat. The name St. Patrick was
given to him later in life by Pope Celestine.
When he was 16, he was captured and sold
into slavery. After 6 years he
had a dream that he would find a ship to take him to freedom. He managed to escape.
Although Patrick was born a British, he considered himself an Irish because it
was in Ireland that he discovered God. He was called to Rome and made a Bishop
by Pope Celestine in 432 before he went on his mission to Ireland. It was
during that occasion that the name "Patercius" or
"Patritius" was given to him. The name comes from two Latin words,
"pater civium" meaning "the father of his people".
St. Patrick is most known for driving
the snakes from Ireland. Some tales tell that he stood on a hill and used a
wooden staff to drive the snakes into the sea and banished them forever from
Ireland. Another legend says that the snake resisted. St. Patrick then tricked
it into entering a small box and cast it into the sea. It is true that Ireland has no snakes!!.
Legend has it that St. Patrick would use
the shamrock to explain the Trinity -
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The word "shamrock" comes from the Gaelic word "seamrog" (In
irish, it means "summer plant") meaning "trefoil" (three
leafed) or "little clover". It
is also a sacred plant among the Druids.
St. Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick,
Ireland, on the 17 March, 461 A.D at the age of 76.
Facts about
the Irish
·
The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with
Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
·
The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south,
and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings
them together as a nation.
·
The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,”
which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,”
which means “shoemaker.”
·
The first St.
Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737. The
largest St. Patrick's Day parade is in New York City.
Facts about Clovers
·
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is
14!
·
One estimate suggests that there
are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
·
Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope,
the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
·
Shamrock is
the national flower of Ireland. Many Irish people wear a shamrock on St.
Patrick's Day but it is not the Irish national emblem, the harp has that honor.
This explains the color green and shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day. Today, if you
do not wear green on St. Patrick's Day, you will get pinched !!.
E.S. e I.
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