SAINT PATRICK - History, Legends and Traditions of St. Patrick's Day: Origins, symbols, and meanings of a millennia-old tradition

Every year on 17 March, streets around the world turn green. Yet behind the parades, shamrocks and familiar legends lies a story spanning more than fifteen centuries.

Who was Saint Patrick? What can his own writings tell us about his life? And how did a religious feast become an international celebration of Irish culture and identity?

This book explores the historical figure of Patrick, from his captivity in Ireland to his return as a missionary, while distinguishing documented events from the legends that grew around him.

Inside you will discover:

• Patrick’s journey from Roman Britain to Ireland
• the Confessio and the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus
• the origins of legends about the shamrock, the snakes and the fire of Slane
• Celtic crosses, monasteries and places associated with the saint
• the development of 17 March through the centuries
• the role of Irish emigrants in spreading the celebration abroad
• the traditions, symbols and modern forms of Saint Patrick’s Day

Written in a clear and accessible style, this book reveals how history, faith, folklore and migration shaped one of the world’s most recognisable celebrations.

An engaging journey for anyone interested in Saint Patrick, Irish history and the traditions that continue to unite communities across the world.