Jackson Free Press

Today is Saint Patrick's Day, the day we wear green to avoid getting pinched. But just who was Saint Patrick, and what does he have to do with Jackson's biggest party day of the year?

Saint Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland. Pirates captured him as a teenager and sold him into slavery, after which his purchaser brought him to Ireland.

As a slave, he devoutly prayed to God and found a certain peace throughout his days of herding and tending sheep. As his faith grew, he felt that God told him through a dream to escape. He found his way back to his family after about six years as a slave.

Patrick later had another dream of being called back to the people of Ireland, which drove him to pursue the priesthood. After becoming an ordained bishop of the Catholic Church, he returned to Ireland, where he preached and taught the word of God for more than 40 years in the then largely pagan country. He converted thousands of believers who built churches throughout Ireland.

Historians believe that Patrick died March 17, 461. The Catholic Church canonized him—made him a saint—in the 7th century, and people recognized him as the patron saint of Ireland.

One myth surrounding Patrick is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, although it is more likely snakes never existed in Ireland due to its geography.

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is now celebrated all over the world on March 17.

Patrick often used a shamrock to explain the holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. One of the theories behind wearing green on the holiday is the color of the shamrocks Patrick used to teach Christianity to the Irish people.

Countries around the world hold parades and festivals on Saint Patrick's Day, but none larger than in Ireland itself. The largest festival is held in Downpatrick, County Down, where Patrick is buried, and usually lasts an entire week.

In Dripsey, Cork, there is a much shorter parade. It lasts about 100 yards—long enough to travel between the town's two pubs.

Of course, Malcolm White took the St. Patrick's Day celebration and turned it on its head, creating Jackson's version of the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. This year's Mal's St. Paddy's Parade celebrations are March 20-21.