One of the more recognized holidays in March is approaching, along with all the accompanying paraphernalia. I refer of course to St. Patrick’s Day and all the green that comes with it. Each year, conspicuous amounts of green beer are consumed to mark the day. However, that’s not March 17th started.
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick was born in the late 4th century in Britain, probably under the name Maewyn Succat. He came from a wealthy family and lived near Hadrian’s Wall. Historical records show no fervent religious upbringing. When he was 16, Irish raiders captured Maewyn.
From ages 16 to 22, Maewyn was enslaved in Ireland. Some accounts state he was a herdsman during this time. In order to cope with what was happening, Maewyn turned to the Christian faith of his childhood. Records from the Catholic church indicate he had a vision that directed him to walk away from his master, thus ending his enslavement.
When Maewyn made it back to Britain, he entered a religious course of study. Ostensibly, a vision showed him saving Ireland. His religious studies took over a decade, during which he was ordained a priest and then a bishop. It was entering the priesthood that Maewyn took the name Patrick.
Patrick was eventually sent to Ireland as a missionary. He was supposed to nurture the Christians already living in Ireland and try to convert more. Instead, he managed to convert a large part of the population throughout his lifetime.
Rather than focus on eradicating the nature-based religion most of Ireland followed, Patrick worked elements of it into the Christian message to make conversion easier. He was also notoriously fair with the Irish and spoke the language. This set him apart from other missionaries and helped his success.
Patrick died in the mid-fifth century in Ireland. His exact burial location is unknown.
How do We Know About St. Patrick?
St. Patrick actually wrote an autobiography called Confessio along with contributions to other works. Since he is such a prominent figure as the patron saint of Ireland, historians followed his tale through the centuries.
There are many second and third-hand accounts of St. Patrick’s life from historians. Since he is a patron saint, some of the work around him is larger than life. Not many points in his early life are well documented.
What Does This Have to Do with March 17th? Or Snakes for That Matter?
Allegedly, St. Patrick died on March 17th. Depending on who calculates, he either died in A.D. 461 or A.D. 463. The day became a religious holiday, complete with its own mass. Since St. Patrick’s Day falls in Lent, it was historically a more somber occasion than it is now.
As for the snakes, the story goes that St. Patrick chased the snakes into the sea when one dared to interrupt his fast. However, the fossil record shows Ireland never had snakes to begin with. This is due to its location surrounded by water in the modern era. In the last Ice Age, Ireland didn’t thaw until after it lost its ice bridge with Britain, and without the thaw, it was too cold for snakes to survive.
Modern historians allege that snakes are symbolic in this story. In the Christian faith, snakes are often used to symbolize evil, starting from the snake in Eden. They posit that snakes are allegorical to pagans since St. Patrick is the face of Catholic conversion in Ireland.
How is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated Today?
In Ireland, before the 1970s, the pubs were actually closed on St. Patrick’s Day. This was a stark contrast to the rest of the world where Irish ex-patriots and descendants gathered for parades and community celebrations. Eventually, Dublin changed the precedent.
Today, Dublin hosts a multiday St. Patrick’s Day celebration. It includes parades, contests, drinking green beer, and more. Around the world, many cities celebrate similarly. Some cities even opt to temporarily dye their rivers green. In the end, it’s all about the celebration in many forms.
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References
Biography.com Editors. St. Patrick Biography. 24 January 2019. Web. 26 February 2019.
Emerald Heritage. How St Patrick’s Day is Celebrated in Ireland. n.d. Web. 26 February 2019.
Gillan, Joanna. The Day of St Patrick and the myth of snakes being cast out of Ireland. 17 March 2014. Web. 26 February 2019.
History.com Editors. St. Patrick. 21 August 2018. Web. 26 February 2019.
Irish Geneology Toolkit. A History of St. Patrick. n.d. Web. 26 February 2019.
Nix, Elizabeth. Is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in Ireland? 17 March 2014. Web. 26 February 2019.
O’Raifeartaigh, Tarlach. St. Patrick. 20 February 2019. Web. 26 February 2019.
Owen, James. Did St. Patrick Really Drive Snakes Out of Ireland? 15 March 2014. Web. 26 February 2019.
Trigilio, John and Kenneth Brighenti. Who Is St. Patrick and Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? n.d. Web. 26 February 2019.