St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, where he is their patron saint. Roman Catholics in the US also celebrate this day, with parades and parties and an emphasis on green. Dating to the fifth century A.D., Patrick was a Briton who was kidnapped as a teen and sold into slavery in Ireland. He escaped after 6 years and returned to his family. He then joined the Church and ultimately became a missionary back to Ireland. His is a story of forgiveness and renewal. As a result of his efforts, Christianity came to Ireland – then a pagan land. Patrick took his adversity and turned it into an advantage. The result gave him new purpose in life.

This year, St. Patrick´s Day became a controversial point in many communities. March 17, 2008, falls during Holy Week, and many Roman Catholics thus found themselves torn between celebrating the day and honoring the traditions of Holy Week. Some cities even moved their St. Patrick´s Day celebrations up to March 12th as a result.