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By now, you’ve probably heard the story about St Patricks and snakes in Ireland. As Irish folklore has it, Saint Patrick once stood on a hilltop (Croagh Patrick) and banished all the snakes from Ireland with his wooden staff. The truth is, there have never been any snakes on the island nation.

It was said that the recounted tale of “banishing the snakes from Ireland” was simply a metaphor for spreading Christianity throughout the land and ridding the nation of paganism.

In fact, 200 years after Patrick’s evangelizing, all of Ireland was Christianized. Even though this story was a myth, there are other true tales that we do know about the life of Ireland’s patron saint.

After Saint Patrick was stolen from his home, he was transported to Ireland, where he spent six years working for a shepherd. The details of St Patrick’s captivity are unclear. Some say he was taken to Mount Slemish of County Antrim, but others believe he was held prisoner in County Mayo of Killala.

Regardless, it is known that the young man lived a lonely life — outdoors and away from people. He turned to religion for solace, but it wasn’t until his escape that he had a vision that religion would become more than just a coping mechanism — but rather, his life’s purpose.

He became a model Christian for others to emulate. Even though he was not perfect, he loved the Lord and spread His word. For this reason, Ireland celebrates this instrument of God with a feast day every year.

While there is some dispute as to St. Patrick’s date of death, it is most widely believed to be on March 17th, in or around 460 A.D. Patrick is said to be buried at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick (County Down), along with St. Brigid and St. Columba — the other two patron saints of Ireland.

Of course, no one has exhumed the bodies to validate this claim. Today visitors to Ireland can see the Saint Patrick Visitor Centre in Downpatrick, which features interactive displays on the story of St Patrick.

To read more The Life Of Saint Patrick

Everyone knows of the Irish holiday called St. Patrick’s Day, which is widely celebrated around the world. However, few people can delineate the authentic Irish customs and traditions from the newer, more Americanized traditions.

Truly, Irish-American St. Patty’s Day celebrations are still valid, but it’s fascinating to see how old customs have been reinvented in the modern era. The next time you sit down to that corned beef and cabbage dinner, you’ll know the real reasons behind why you’ve chosen that particular food.

“Traditionally in Ireland, the feast of St. Patrick is a celebration of the Christianization of Ireland,” says Ninian Mellamphy, a professor at the University of Western Ontario who came over from Cork, Ireland.

For many years, the Irish holiday was commemorated by attending mass and honoring the missionary who converted much of Ireland from paganism to Christianity in the fifth century. “It was a quiet celebration of our culture,” he adds.

“There was no sense of the carnival.” Rather, the “carnival” of beer drinking, Irish music, parades and parties began when homesick Irish immigrants got together to celebrate their origins.

The Americanized version of Saint Patrick’s Irish holiday has made it back to Ireland, says Mary C. Kelly, a professor at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire. “It used to be a very church-focused event, but in the last 10 years, it has become much more commercialized and Americanized.”

She says this probably has to do with an eagerness to lure tourists during a chillier, rainier time of the year. “It’s a reflection of the fact that the Irish have become very wealthy in the past decade,” Kelly explains.

She also believes Irish who have tried their luck abroad and returned back home are bringing a lot of their American traditions back with them, where it’s intermingling with the Irish culture.

“Some would be aware that they’re bringing what you might even call a new culture back there. Others wouldn’t, they would see it as their own personal interpretation.”

To read more Irish Holiday On St Patricks Day

Before this St. Patrick’s Day 2010, you should learn a little about Ireland’s history so you can really wow your friends. While the story of St. Patrick is often up for debate, scholars can agree that he was sold into slavery as a teenager, where he became a sheep farmer.

Upon his escape to France, he experienced an inspirational vision, became a priest and later became the second Bishop to Ireland. He is noted for establishing schools, churches and monasteries around the country.

In his preaching, he often used three-leafed shamrocks as a metaphor of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Trinity, which is why it is so much a symbol of Ireland today. Once you’ve brushed up on your Irish history, here are some other ways to celebrate.

Since it is a “feast day,” consuming traditional Irish food is the ideal way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Whether you have friends and family over for a sit-down meal or you hit up a local restaurant, you’ll enjoy the specialties that Irish cuisine has to offer.

Saint Patricks Day dinner ideas include corned beef, cabbage, Reuben sandwiches, Irish lamb or beef stew, Guinness and cheddar soup, shepherd’s pie, Atlantic salmon, Guinness beef tips with mashed potatoes and chicken/apple boxty. You can finish up your meal with coffee and Bailey’s Irish cream and a piece of Irish soda bread.

Irish culture is embedded in much media, so you may consider singing Irish songs, attending Irish theatre or watching an Irish movie for St. Patrick’s Day 2010.

Homesick Irish-Americans have always liked movies such as; Going My Way (with Bing Crosby), The Bells of St. Mary’s (with Bing Crosby & Ingrid Bergman), The Quiet Man (with John Wayne & Maureen O’Hara) and Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt’s memoir).

Theatrical performances of Riverdance are popular in March, as are Celtic music concerts. Also, don’t forget to sing along with traditional Irish folk songs like “Danny Boy” or “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”

To read more Celebrating With Traditional Irish Cuisine On St. Patrick’s Day 2010