Why Do We Celebrate St. Patty's Day?

Every March 17th, thousands of people don their greenest garb, march in the Irish pride parades, eat green clover-shaped cookies, and quaff frosty mugs of green beer in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. But do you really know who St. Patrick was and why he is celebrated?

He was born in AD 387 just south of Hadrian's wall in Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire (that's right - he wasn't Irish!). He was captured by Irish pagans in the early teens and taken to Ireland, where he was enslaved for six years. During that time, he grew to like the "spirit of the Irish". When he escaped and returned to his family, he vowed to one day return to Ireland.

He studied at monasteries on the continent and was eventually ordained a priest and then a bishop. Pop Celestine I commissioned Patrick to be an apostle to Ireland.

He, too, like some of the PCRs today, encountered many hardships among the people. They weren't willing to give up their power over the old religion and feared Patrick and Christianity. Little by little the old religion began to fade. He baptized, confirmed and ordained priests, and he erected schools and monasteries. Thousands came into the fold under his direction and he accomplished all this in less than 30 years.

In the "spirit of the Irish", whatever that is, a few of the PCRs set out for an early morning ride hoping to eat a few green treats, sing a few songs, drinks some warm spirits and beat a storm that was forecast to hit around 9AM. Well, let's just say they accomplished 3 of 4.

PS - .... and remember, when you come home wet and dirty, undress in the garage or have Mr. T come help you with arranging your wet/dirty riding gear so you don't get in trouble with you know who.

If you're lucky enough to be Irish, then you're lucky enough! 

YIPPY SKIPPY

 First of three stops to warm up 

and sing a little "OLD DANNY BOY"

 Did you not look at the forecast??  

 Are we crazy??

I can't feel my hands!

 Mr. T, did you really have to send these pictures

 to Big Man's spouse and gloat?

Click here for tip of the week - How Riding A Bike Will Keep You Young