Jackson Free Press

Do you know your facts about Saint Patrick? What about his myths? Test your knowledge and read on.

1. Patrick grew up in the 5th century in a Roman villa along the River Sabrina on Britain's west coast.

2. A group of Irish raiders took a teenage Patrick prisoner during an attack on his family's estate. The raiders sent him to Ireland where he spent seven years in captivity.

3. During this time, he worked as a shepherd. The long, quiet hours of introspection led him to Christianity.

4. Six years after coming to Ireland, Patrick escaped to Britain. He said God told him it was time to leave Ireland.

5. Patrick studied religion for more than 12 years. After becoming a priest, he went back to Ireland.

6. His mission was to convert pagans and also to minister to Christians (which means he wasn't the person to introduce Christianity to Ireland).

7. Patrick used bonfires to celebrate Easter because the Irish honored their gods with fire. He added a sun to the cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross.

8. One of the myths about St. Patrick, besides introducing the Irish to Christianity, is that he drove all the snakes in the land into the sea to their destruction. He didn't.

9. Patrick supposedly used a shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.

10. St. Patrick died on March 17. The exact years of his birth and death are unknown, but he did live during the 5th century.