St. Patrick’s Day

Image via Wikipedia: The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in Cork City, Ireland

Who was St. Patrick?

Saint Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. He lived from 387 AD – March 17, 461 AD and was born as Maewyn Succat in Britain.  As a teenager he was allegedly captured by Pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave where he remained captive for six years.

His writings say that after the six years had passed he heard a voice telling him it was time to go home. He escaped from captivity to find a boat and eventually made his way back to his family. Some time later, he had a vision that he needed to return to Ireland as a Christian Missionary.

As a missionary Saint Patrick converted many of the people of Ireland. He organized churches, ordained Priests, and allegedly baptized thousands, including kings. He also was called a protector of those he converted, excommunicating men who tried to enslave them.

Many historians believe that the modern stories of Saint Patrick are actually the combination of two men: Saint Patrick (Maewyn Succat) and Palladius. Palladius was the man sent as the first bishop to the Irish believers from Pope Celestine. Regardless, Saint Patrick was known as a spiritual leader to the Irish and is still accepted as that.

Saint Patrick: A Legend

According to legend, Saint Patrick banished all snakes from the island of Ireland. Whether this is just legend, is symbolic, or is true is not proven but many Irish people believe it to be true. He is also the person to bring significance to the shamrock. He taught the Irish people about the trinity by showing a shamrock (three leafed clover) and showing how it was ‘three divine persons in the one God’.

Throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom there are Orthodox icons dedicated to Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was named a saint shortly after his death, and the date of his death, March 17, is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day.  

St. Patrick’s Day: The Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day is a national and bank holiday throughout Ireland. Though it is celebrated in many other countries world wide it is not considered a national holiday accept in the small island country Montserrat. Though the color blue was traditionally Saint Patrick’s signature color, green is worn because it is the color most associated with Ireland. The clover is also a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day due to it’s representation of his teachings. Leprechauns, a common part of Irish mythology, are also a part of the St. Patrick’s Day due to their Irish background.

Most countries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little different. Americans, Irish or not, wear green and pinch those who are not in green. Canada has a huge parade in Montreal. Ireland has celebration everywhere, the largest in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland where Saint Patrick is rumored to have been buried.  Great Britain has a series of festivals to celebrate and in Uruguay people dance and drink beer in the streets.

Trivia

On March 17, 1776, the day that British forces evacuated Boston during the American Revolutionary War, the password of the day at General George Washington’s Continental Army camp was “Saint Patrick”.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City gets the most viewers each year.

Over 34 million Americans are of Irish ancestry.

According to legend, kissing the Blarney stone will give you eloquent speech.

The Chicago and San Antonio rivers are died green each St. Patrick’s Day

Legend says that Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland by hitting drums.