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March 11, 2006 St Patricks Day Parade-
Waveland
MS
Yes the Waveland Civic Association will
be hosting a St Patty's Parade this
year, starting at 2pm from the
intersection of Hwy 90 and Hwy 603,
first rolling east in the westbound lane
of 90 to the city limits, then turning
around and heading west in the east
bound lane of hwy 90 to Waveland Ave
16 St Patricks Day
Celebration at WAMA
OCEAN SPRINGS,MS
Paint your own pilsner beer glass using
Walter Anderson motifs Drink green beer
Listen to Irish jig music call (228)
872-3164 for details
17 St. Patrick's Day Celebration -
DESTIN
DESTIN,FL
Destin Commons hosts the Emerald Coast
Bagpipe & Drum corps for a festive Irish
concert in Center Plaza at 6pm, followed
by a local band. Children wearing green
will receive St. Patty's Day treats.
850.337.8700.
March 18, 2006- St Patricks Day Parade
BILOXI,MS
The traditional downtown Biloxi route
has been changed from previous years,
but will still pass in front of the
Biloxi City Hall. The parade will
feature bands, military units, flag
bearers, bagpipers, leprechauns, a
horse-drawn carriage with the parade’s
Grand Marshal and Colleen, and colorful
floats tossing Irish trinkets, green
beads and doubloons. Starts at 2pm call
(228) 392-4896 or 860-8659 for details.
March 18, 2006 - IRISH DERBY - St
Patricks Day 5K Run
BILOXI,MS
The Irish Derby/5K Run in downtown
Biloxi will begin at 10 a.m. with
registration beginning at 9 a.m. in
front of Biloxi Public Library. The St.
Patrick’s Day Parade will follow at 2
p.m., rolling through downtown Biloxi
from the corner of Main St. and Ester
Blvd. Starts at 10am call (228) 392-4896
or 860-8659 for details.
March 19, 2006-SHENANIGAN'S ST PATRICKS
PARADE -
GULFPORT,MS
Parade consisting of bands, floats,
family groups, marchers, radio vans and
flag bearers. The parade begins at the
Harrison County Courthouse on 24th Ave
and travels south to 14th St, then east
to 21st Ave, north to 15th St and west
to 24th Ave to end in front of Gulfport
City Hall. Starts at 2pm. Call (228)
864-6211 for details
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ABOUT SAINT PATRICK
Saint Patrick is believed
to have been born in the late fourth century,
and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop
who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the
first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.
Saint Patrick was the patron saint and national
apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing
christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known
about him comes from his two works, the
Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his
Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment
of Irish christians. Saint Patrick described
himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring
forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker
for having chosen him as the instrument whereby
multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean
things had become the people of God."
Saint Patrick is most known for driving the
snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no
snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have
been - the island was separated from the rest of
the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in
many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were
common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes
from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an
end to that pagan practice. While not the first
to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick
who is said to have encountered the Druids at
Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story
holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and
princes, baptizing them and thousands of their
subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear
this name.
 There
are several accounts of Saint Patrick's death.
One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick,
Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was
preserved in a silver shrine and was often
requested in times of childbirth, epileptic
fits, and as a preservative against the "evil
eye." Another account says that St. Patrick
ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was
buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still
exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many
Catholic places of worship all around the world
are named after St. Patrick, including
cathedrals in New York and Dublin city
Why Saint Patrick's Day?
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated
with everything Irish: anything green and gold,
shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those
who celebrate its intended meaning, St.
Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual
renewal and offering prayers for missionaries
worldwide.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One
theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick
died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is
believed that as the Irish spread out around the
world, they took with them their history and
celebrations. The biggest observance of all is,
of course, in Ireland. With the exception of
restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses
close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday
as well, many Irish attend mass, where March
17th is the traditional day for offering prayers
for missionaries worldwide before the serious
celebrating begins.
In American cities with a large Irish
population, St. Patrick's Day is a very big
deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate
with parades, "wearing of the green," music and
songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for
kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some
communities even go so far as to dye rivers or
streams green!
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