<div>Today the 17th March we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick; Ireland's patron saint, known for spreading Christianity throughout the country as a missionary during the 5th century.</div><div>He was captured by pirates as a child and brought to Ireland. </div><div>During his enslavement, he was called to Christianity and escaped his captors after six years. According to tradition, Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. He spent many years evangelising in the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands. Patrick's efforts against the druids were eventually turned into an allegory in which he drove "snakes" out of Ireland, despite the fact that snakes were not known to inhabit the region. He died on 17 March and was buried at Downpatrick. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century</div>