Popular parades in Toronto
El Saint Patrick's day It is observed each year on March 17. And while it is true that it is not an official national holiday in Canada, it is nevertheless a holiday in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador .
This date invokes the spirit of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with having introduced Christianity to the Atlantic island of Canada.
Observed as a religious occasion in Ireland, in Canada, the event is often marked with festive parades and the use of the color green.
One of the largest and most popular parades is in Toronto which, since its inception in 1988, the parade has grown to include 100 organizations, 32 Irish county associations, 2.000 protesters, 30 floats, 14 bands, as well as an assortment of allegorical cars with the participation of the entire community.
The saint is believed to have been born in Kilpatrick Scotland. And when he was in his late teens, he was captured during a raid and taken to Ireland as a slave. There they learned to care for sheep and flock.
At this time, Druids and pagans occupied Ireland. The young man learned the practices and language of his captors. Due to the difficulties he faced, he turned to God.
When he was twenty years old, God appeared to him in a dream and advised him to go to the coast, escaping to Great Britain, where he was reunited with his parents. He then entered the priesthood, was ordained a bishop, and returned to the Emerald Isle in March 433. He traveled across the country converting people to Christianity.
It should be noted that the shamrock as a symbol of St. Patrick's Day recognizes the use of the saint of the shamrock to explain the Christian concept of the Trinity where the three leaves represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with the stem representing the Trinity. It has been associated with St. Patrick's Day and Ireland for centuries.
Legend has it that Saint Patrick stood on a hill overlooking the sea, stick in hand, and banished all the snakes from the island forever. This probably symbolizes the end of pagan practices. Saint Patrick died on March 17, 461 in the town of Sale, where the first church was built.