Erin Go Bragh

Happy Saint Patrick's Day.

Hope everyone is wearing green and not getting pinched.

For many, St. Patrick's Day is a time to celebrate the Irish culture. Or at least our perception of Irish culture. We drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, and wear green shamrocks.

But the day is more than just a big party. It's also a religious holiday, held to show reverence toward the man who brought the Catholic religion to Ireland.

According to lore, St Patrick was a young British boy who was brought to Ireland as a slave. While in Ireland, he found God and prayed for his freedom and safe return home.

At age 20, he was freed and returned to England where he took to the study of his new found faith. He became a bishop and returned to Ireland in 433 to preach the gospel and spread his faith to the people. He began the construction of many churches and converted many thousands to Catholicism.

It's often said that St. Patrick drove all the snakes from Ireland, a metaphor for the introduction of Catholicism to replace the pagan rites and rituals that were prevalent at that time. Today St. Patrick is one of the worlds most popular saints and is respected both inside and outside of his religion.

So as you drink your Guinness and have your Scotch eggs, take a moment to raise your glass to the Saint of Ireland and say Sláinte ( Slaw-in-tche) and Go raibh maith agat (Guh-roh-moh-uhg'-uht ).

That's Gaelic for good health and thanks.