St. Patrick’s Day - the parades, the wearing of the green, green beer, and little men with
pots of gold!  Where did this all come from?  We will look into the tradition of this Irish
holiday in this article!

It all started about 401 AD when a 16 year old boy by the name of Maewyn Succat was
seized from Welsh in the British Isle and brought to Ireland to become a slave.  After 6
years, Maewyn escaped and returned to Britain.  Maewyn received a divine message
that told him to go back to Ireland and spread the Word and for 15 years studied the
bible and attended seminary.  

At the age of 45, Patrick (his now Christian name) went and did just that.  Patrick
founded hundreds of churches and baptized thousands of newly converted Christians.

Because of what he did, there was a feast held for him upon his death on March 17th
461 AD where he was declared a saint.

There are pilgrimages that go to Croash Mountain.  This is where it is said that St.
Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.  There were never any snakes in Ireland and
the driving out of them is symbolic of casting out the old religions.

Up until the 1970’s Irish Pubs were mandatory closed for the 17th because St. Patrick’s
Day was considered a religious holiday.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United Stated.

So why the color green? St. Patrick’s Day green color comes from two sources.  The
first is because of Ireland's plush green land. The second is because of St. Patrick
himself.  Ireland has two major religions – Catholic and Protestant.  Catholics are known
as the greens while Protestants are known as the orange.  Since St. Patrick was
Catholic, he would be known as green.

The Shamrock is symbolic for many things and has its roots in the Pagan religions.  It is
symbolic for Crone, Mother, Virgin / Love, Values, Wit / Faith, Hope, and Charity.  
Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism and still do.  Three is the most
sacred and magical number.  St. Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity of
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Just about everyone has heard of the Blarney Stone.  This stone is set in the wall of the
Blarney Castle tower in Blarney, Ireland.  It was once said that a witch cast a spell on
the stone to give the gift of blarney (persuasive eloquence of gab) to the stone’s kisser.  
The stone is hard to reach as it is between the main castle wall and the parapet.  
Kissers must stretch their back and bend backwards (and downward) holding onto iron
bars for support.

Leprechauns are Irish fae (plural for faerie) that are about 2 feet tall, are aloof,
unfriendly, live alone, and make shoes to pass the time.  They also possess a pot of
gold.  To catch a Leprechaun by its beard is rare, but should one succeed in doing so,
the leprechaun must give up his pot of gold to his captor.  Be careful though! Losing
sight of the captured leprechaun could give him a chance to disappear in just a wink of
an eye and his pot of gold will go with him!


©Stormy McNeal