Saint Patrick’s Day. We wear our finest green clothes and (some of us) hit the pub, but what is this holiday really all about? Here at Traton Homes, we were wondering so we did a little research for you.

Held the 17th of March, the holiday commemorates Saint Patrick; the most commonly recognized patron saint of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in the country. Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy, Christian family. When he was just 16 years old, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. While there, he was told by God in a dream to flee to the coast, which he did, where he then boarded a ship and returned to Britain. Upon his return, he quickly began studies to become a priest. Several decades later, he returned to Ireland as a bishop, where he worked to Christianize the polytheistic Irish.

While originally a religious holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day has gradually become a secular celebration of Irish culture in general. Celebrations include displays of the color green, feasting and drinking, parades and religious observances. And even though it isn’t a legal holiday in the U.S., we’ve been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day since the late eighteenth century here.

What is the significance of the shamrock and the color green? Irish folklore tells that one of Saint Patrick’s teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people.

Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year. Before heading out for your St. Patty’s Day celebration, make sure to stop by our Rockford Township community on March 17 and 18. We’re hosting a Lucky Weekend at this fabulous community where we’ll be showing off our Marietta homes for sale as well as offering $10,000 in green to use on exquisite options at our design center. We’ll even have face painting and food on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. so make sure to bring your whole family out for this fun event.

We want you to have a fun and safe Saint Patrick’s Day; if you’d like more information on any of our Atlanta new homes, visit www.TratonHomes.com.