Con motivo de la
festividad de San Patricio, patrón de Irlanda, el día 17 de Marzo, desde el
departamento de inglés dedicaremos la semana a aprender más sobre Irlanda, su
historia, costumbres y tradiciones.
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 Dublin,(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.
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!!.
The legend says 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment