When is St Patrick’s Day 2019? How to celebrate Paddy’s Day in London and who was St Patrick?

Everything you need to know about our favourite Irish holiday
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St Patrick's Day is almost upon us, and we can practically taste the Guinness.

Ireland's national day is a celebration of Irish culture and is also notoriously synonymous with lots of drinking.

They'll be festivities happening in Ireland's capital of Dublin and all over the world, with people donning their best green clothes and costumes.

Here's everything you need to know about St Patrick's Day:

When is St. Patrick’s Day 2019?

St Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17 every year
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This year St. Patrick’s Day falls this Sunday, March 17. It is a national holiday for residents of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Who was St. Patrick?

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St. Patrick was a 5th century Irish Christian missionary and bishop. Born in Scotland in 387 Ad, his real name was Maewyn Succat.

According to records, he was 16 when he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken from Roman Britain – where he was born – to be a slave in Gaelic Ireland.

The Declaration states that after six years as a shepherd, God told Patrick to flee to the coast where a ship would be waiting to take him home. After he made his way home, Patrick then became a priest.

Eventually he returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity until he died one year on March 17. After his death, he became Ireland’s foremost saint and the subject of legend.

How do the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

St. Patrick’s Day is now a worldwide celebration of everything Irish. But in Ireland the celebrations generally centre on public parades, dressing up, fireworks and, of course, pints of Guinness.

When is the St Patrick's Day parade in London?

St Patrick's Day is often celebrated with lots of Guinness!
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The St Patrick’s Day parade returns in spectacular fashion to the capital this year.

The parade route will start at Hyde Park corner before journeying through Piccadilly and finishing at Trafalgar Square.

Irish singers and performers will be keeping the celebrations going from noon until 6pm.

How do you say Happy St. Patrick’s Day in Irish?

All you need to do is say, “Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!” Easy, right?

Phonetically it’s pronounced “Law Ale-yeh Pawd-rig Sunna Ditch!” Too simple.

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