The Story of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick, one of the most famous Catholic figures, is the patron saint of Ireland. While many in the United States and throughout the world celebrate March 17 (actually the date of his death in the fifth century) with green clothing and green beer, most don’t understand why. So here is my nickelodeon version of the story. If you want more information, look it up or drop me a message.
First, Patrick didn’t banish all of the snakes from Ireland. He wasn’t the Pied Piper of Eire. In fact, snakes probably didn’t even exist on the island considering its location and environment.
Patrick was actually born in Britain to fairly well off parents towards the end of the fourth century. Around the age of sixteen, Patrick was captured by a group of Irish raiders that had gone after his family farm. From Britain he was taken as a slave to County Mayo, near Killala, Ireland (even though some say he was taken to Mount Slemish in County Antrim). There, he remained in custody for six years where he worked in lonely fields as a shepherd. It is thought that it was during this time that he becomes a devout Catholic and decided to begin converting other Irish folks to Christianity; though that is questionable considering his fleeing to England.
After six years, Patrick reported that “God spoke to me in a dream and told me to leave Ireland.” He fled to Britain where he once again had a revelation. He wrote that an Angel came to him in a dream and told him to return to Ireland to minister to the Pagans living there. So it was at this point that Patrick chose to become a priest.
From Britain, Patrick traveled to France where he spent 15+ years studying to become a priest and asking for forgiveness (He was a fairly bad boy as a youth and like me, had a lot of forgiveness to ask for). In 432 A.D., after being ordained a priest, Patrick was sent to work with Bishop Palladius in Ireland. Many people actually mix up St. Patrick and Bishop Palladius. Palladius was actually sent by Pope Celestine to serve as the first Bishop of the Irish people and Patrick took his place when he died on a trip to Britain.
At the time most Irish were pagans and had strong traditions in “praying” to their gods. Instead of challenging all of their beliefs he actually incorporated their traditions into celebrating the life of Christ. One major tool that he used was the superimposing of the sun (a major Irish symbol) onto the cross; thus, the creation of the Celtic crosses.
The most famous symbol that Patrick used and what most remember him and Ireland for is the shamrock. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.
Supposedly, when Patrick was ministering to some Irish people, several people approached him and proclaimed that what he was saying was wrong. They yelled “Your preaching is wrong. You tell us there is only one true God, and yet you speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. How can that be? You have three Gods, not one.” Patrick replied that there is one God in three. To which they all admitted confusion. So Patrick reached down to a patch of Shamrock on the ground, picked one leaf and asked them “How many leaves are there?” Some replied “three” while others said “one.” Patrick replied that both answers are right. “The one divides into three; the three unite in one, and my God is three in one and one in three – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
Patrick died on March 17, 460 and when the first list of Saints was produced by the Catholic Church, his name was on it.
Even though he wasn’t Irish he definitely played a major role in Irish History. In fact, the Emerald Island may have gained its popularity from just him.
Now the holiday we celebrate (the anniversary of his death) was actually a religious day in Ireland. In fact pubs were actually closed on March 17th until 1995 when the Irish government decided that it would make for a great tourism gimmick. The modern celebration actually seems to have started in the United States. In 1962, Irish soldiers marched in the first known St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City and its popularity has grown ever since.
Today people throughout the world have incorporated some crazy traditions including the pinching of someone not wearing green clothing and my favorite tradition, the drinking of green beer. We also cook Corn Beef Brisket and Cabbage (in Ireland they have Irish Bacon and Cabbage) for dinner, even though there had to be an exception made to allow meat during the Catholic period of Lent.
Tonight, when you hoist your mug of green beer in the air, remember why you are celebrating (even if just for the fact that we wouldn’t have a holiday if not for the story I just told you). Some of you will be praying your everyday prayers and others will just be praying for the pain from your hangover to go away. Remember to take a sober friend with you tonight to drive your drunken rear end home or at least have the number to a good cab company. With St. Patrick’s Day being on a Friday there will be a lot of partying going on and I would hate the praying to come from your family over your casket.
Today everyone is Irish (even though I am part Irish all the time) so enjoy it.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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