The holiday originated from a child named "Saint Patrick." Born around 373 AD, he originally lived on the island of Great Britain. At the age of sixteen, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to Ireland. During his six years of captivity, he became a shepherd. Throughout this period of hardship, he relied on the power of religion to get by; he prayed to God every day, hoping that one day he would be able to return to his homeland. One night while praying, a voice reached his ears, telling him to flee the shepherd's farm quickly and that a ship was waiting for him on the shore about two hundred miles away. Consequently, he and a few companions rowed a boat to escape Ireland, landing on the European continent in what is now France. During this escape, his miracles gradually manifested, and many magical legends were left behind. Later, when Saint Patrick returned to Ireland to preach, more magical legends surrounded him. Saint Patrick spent the rest of his life in Ireland, bringing the light of religion to every corner of the island, building churches and schools to educate the people. Many churches and schools in Ireland are named after him. Therefore, to commemorate this saint who protected them, the Irish designated the day of his death, March 17th, as one of Ireland's most important holidays, "St. Patrick's Day."
There is another account that in 432 AD, Saint Patrick was sent by the Pope to Ireland to persuade the Irish to convert to Christianity. After landing in Wicklow, local angry pagans attempted to stone him to death. But Saint Patrick was undaunted and immediately picked a shamrock with three heart-shaped leaves to vividly illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. His eloquent speech deeply moved the Irish, who accepted the grand baptism administered by Saint Patrick. Therefore, the shamrock became a symbol of Ireland, and today, finding a four-leaf clover is considered a symbol of good luck.
In 1737, some Irish gentlemen and merchants gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States to commemorate Saint Patrick and founded an Irish charitable society. In 1780 and 1784, groups such as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick were established in Philadelphia and New York, respectively, and the United States has celebrated this holiday every year since. On St. Patrick's Day in the United States, people usually hold parades, church services, and dinners. Irish-Americans like to wear shamrocks, decorate their rooms with the colors of the Irish flag—green and yellow—wear green clothing, and give shamrock ornaments to guests.