St. Patrick's Day is one of America's most popular holidays and is also a staple around the world, particularly in other countries associated with Irish emigration like New Zealand. The first St. Patrick's Day to be held in America was in Boston in 1737. Several decades later, in 1762, New York City followed suit. Both cities organized parades to celebrate the life and times of St. Patrick, as well as their Irish roots.

So just who was St. Patrick and why is he so revered? St. Patrick lived from 385 to 461 A.D.. He is thought to have died on March 17. Thus St. Patrick's Day was to be held annually on that day each and every year. St. Patrick was born in Great Britain. Yet, he likely never would have become a Saint had he not been kidnapped and forcefully removed from Great Britain. During his days an an enslaved shepherd he found God and vowed to live a holy life.

Catholic Online has a transcript of what it believes to be St. Patrick recalling those gray days.

"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same," he wrote. "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Luckily, or because of God's divine intervention, whatever you may believe, St. Patrick escaped his persecutors and fled to Great Britain.

According to the History Channel, St. Patrick "returned to Ireland in 432 A.D. on a mission" to help save the Island nation's people. St. Patrick hoped to convert all the Irishmen and women to Christianity. He also had a vision to build monasteries and schools across the country. St. Patrick successfully carried out his plan.

Contrary to the popular myth, St. Patrick never drove all the snakes from Ireland. Instead, he cured the land of paganism. The correlation between non-Christian religions and evil, however untrue that may be, likely spurred the creation of this snake myth.

All these things made celebrating St. Patrick's life a no brainer. Interestingly enough, St. Patrick's Day isn't as popular in Ireland. That may be because they actually live in the country. Also, the Irish celebration of St. Patrick's Day isn't as religiously charged as it is in America.

So what is your favorite part about St. Patrick's Day? Does your mom or dad cook up a particularly scrumptious recipe? Do you sing and dance? Let us know in the comments section below.