1 . Saint Patrick’s Day is a major holiday in Ireland, but the rest of the world has influenced its celebration as much as the Irish     1     (they). Most Americans think of Saint Patrick’s Day as a big party     2     (center) around drinking alcohol. But its     3     (origin) in Ireland were religious, says Mike Cronin, a professor of Irish history with Boston College of Massachusetts.

Saint Patrick lived in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago. He is     4     (wide) considered to have established Christianity in the country. The Church decided to honor him with a holy day. March 17, the date of his death,    5     (choose) in the 171h century.

St. Patrick is believed     6     (serve) in Ireland as a Catholic Bishop (主教). The average Irish person honored March 17 quietly.    7     (attend) church services was the main activity. In fact, most businesses that served alcohol would close in honor     8     the day. In the early 1900s, Ireland’s government made St. Patrick’s Day     9     official holiday. By the 1960s, towns across Ireland started celebrating the holiday with parades and music.

In Ireland today, Si. Patrick’s Day is a four-day public celebration     10     includes parades, music, food, and games.