They say a day's not complete unless you've learned something new.
Well, I learned something interesting in youth group this past Sunday, thanks to a book our co-leader, Lindy, has about a variety of Christian questions, including the history of holidays. The focus this week, naturally, was St. Patrick's Day.
I don't know why I didn't know it earlier, but this Irish holiday has many Christian connections. The coolest fact was that St. Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity to the Irish people.
Here is some other information from Wikipedia:
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on March 17. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387-461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland) the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general. The day is generally characterized by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.
Does that mean it was OK that I cheated a bit and had ice cream from a fast-food place after my teeth cleaning this afternoon? (Don't you just love finding a way to justify doing something "bad" after you've already done it?) You've got to get rid of that gritty feeling somehow, right? What better way than with ice cream?!?
Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!
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