The New Prague Area Historical Society celebrated St. Patrick's Day and shared local history related to St. Patrick on Thursday. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to the country.

“Happy St Patrick's Day! As we celebrate the 'Luck of the Irish' today, we salute our neighbors to the north in St Patrick,” the New Prague Area Historical Society posted online, referring to a small township in Scott County, Minnesota.

The New Prague Area Historical Society was formed in 1981 as a way to preserve and share the history of the area. Its post went on to explain that the town of St. Patrick was once called "Teepee" Hill as Native Americans had a village in the area. After the Indian Treaty was signed in 1851, settlers moved into the NP area through homesteading. 

“The community began as an Irish settlement and later, Bohemian families moved to the area,” the post said. “It is known for Bonin Field, named for Father Leon Bonin, the parish Catholic priest who revived the game of baseball in the community in the 1950's.”

St. Patrick was born to a wealthy family in Britain around the end of the 4th century, a history.com report says. When he was 16, Patrick was captured by a group of Irish raiders that brought him back to Ireland. He labored as a slave for 6 years, working in isolation as a shepherd. In his loneliness he relied on his faith, and eventually God told him in a dream that it was time to escape back to Britain. Patrick is thought to have walked around 200 miles to do so, but once he was home in Britain, God instructed him to return to Ireland as a missionary.

Ireland was largely pagan at the time, Franciscan Media says, but Patrick dreamed that all the children of Ireland were reaching out their hands to him. After continuing his studies and becoming a bishop, Patrick returned to Ireland. Despite opposition from some of the Irish pagans, Patrick converted many to Christianity. He ordained priests, founded monasteries, established dioceses, and held meetings. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and of engineers.

St. Patrick is the subject of many myths and legends. One popular legend is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, according to Britannica. Patrick is also credited with raising 33 people from the dead. He used shamrocks - the native flower of Ireland - to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity.