B. THE HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY

What is the history of St Patrick’s Day? Visit this site: https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-st-patricks-day-parade-1773800 Read the article, then complete the following sentences:

• The first recorded St Patrick’s Day parade happened in _______________ (1) in the year _______________ (2).
• In New York, St Patrick’s Day celebrations from 1784 onwards involved the playing of fifes and _______________ (3), and a _______________ (4) was held in Manhattan.
• In the 1800s, the Irish population of New York increased because of the _______________ (5), so there were more St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
• However, the newspapers reported stories of _______________ (6), and so there were efforts to make the celebrations more respectable.
• The parade today has hardly changed since the _______________ (7). Other American _______________ (8), as well as Dublin in Ireland, now also hold large parades.

C. TRADITIONS

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world and is well-known for a number of its traditions. Visit the following site http://www.ireland-information.com/saintpatricksdaytraditions.htm to find the answers to the questions below:

1. When did people first start wearing Shamrock to celebrate St Patrick?
2. Why did Irish people use the Shamrock?
3. What colour was originally associated with St Patrick?
4. Who held the first St Patrick’s Day parade?
5. How many people take part in the parade in New York?
6. For how many days is St Patrick’s Day now celebrated in Ireland?
7. Which river was first dyed green in 1962?
8. Which famous places have been coloured green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
9. What drinks are traditionally drunk on St Patrick’s Day?
10. How many extra pints of Guinness are drunk on St Patrick’s Day?
11. What traditional Irish food is often eaten on St Patrick’s Day?

D. MUSIC

Watch this video. A different version of the traditional song Whiskey in The Jar

Your turn. Do you feel like singing? Visit https://es.lyricstraining.com/play/metallica/whiskey_in_the_jar/HaJ3ymUUVa and test your listening skills filling the gaps of the lyrics. Choose beginner, intermediate, advanced or expert and play!

To find more about Saint Patrick, visit: http://www.stpatricksday.com/spdc_content/

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!

ANSWER KEY - PART A

1. Around 450 AD, probably on the wesy coast of England, near the southern border of modern England and Wales.
2. He was captured and sold as a slaved
3. He prayed.
4. He sought passage on a ship bound for Britain.
5. He was a bishop.
6. No, he was beaten, put in chains and extorted.
7. They insulted him, tried to poison him and engaged him in magical duels.
8. Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol of the Christian Trinity when he preached to the Irish. This is false.
9. There were no snakes in pre-modern Ireland.
10. Saint Brigit and Saint Columba. They were Irish.

ANSWER KEY - PART B

1. Boston
2. 1737
3. drums
4. banquet
5. Great Famine
6. violence
7. 1890s
8. cities

ANSWER KEY - PART C

1. 17th or 18th century
2. To illustrate the message of the Christian Holy Trinity and demonstrate their defiance of the British ruling class.
3. Blue.
4. Irish soldiers serving in the British Army.
5. (over) 150,000
6. Five days
7. The Chicago River
8. The Irish Parliament, the Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls and the Pyramids of Giza.
9. Beer and whiskey
10. 7.5 million
11. Corned beef and cabbage.