The History of St. Patrick

03Mach1 · Mar 16, 2006

History of St Patrick's Day
St Patrick:

Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary and the Apostle of Ireland. He was born around 385 AD near Dumbarton in Scotland the son of a Roman nobleman. His real name is believed to have been Maewyn Succat; his baptismal name is Patricius. He was just 16 when his village was attacked. He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland where he worked as a shepherd. After six years of being beaten and treated poorly, he escaped to Gaul (present day France). He returned to Ireland as a missionary where he is credited for converting the population to Catholicism.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Customs and Traditions:

Shamrocks:

A three-leafed clover, the shamrock is the national emblem of Ireland. Although it is widely believed that St. Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the trinity, this idea cannot be proven. In fact the first written mention of this story did not appear until nearly a thousand years after Patrick's death.

The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

Music:

Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day—and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend, and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.

After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember important events and hold on to their heritage and history. As it often stirred emotion and helped to galvanize people, music was outlawed by the English. During her reign,Queen Elizabeth I even decreed that all artists and pipers were to be arrested and hanged on the spot.

Today, traditional Irish bands like The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers, and Tommy Makem are gaining worldwide popularity. Their music is produced with instruments that have been used for centuries, including the fiddle, the uilleann pipes (a sort of elaborate bagpipe), the tin whistle (a sort of flute that is actually made of nickel-silver, brass, or aluminum), and the bodhran (an ancient type of framedrum that was traditionally used in warfare rather than music).

The Snake:

It has long been recounted that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called Croagh Patrick), and with only a wooden staff by his side, banished all the snakes from Ireland. In fact, the island nation was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within two hundred years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.
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http://www.twilightbridge.com/festivals/patrick/history.htm

I know it's a day early, but I thought you'd like to know what your celebrating tomorrow.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Gigatron_2005 · Mar 16, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day tfw2005!

Zero Prime · Mar 16, 2006

Nice read, and a pinch to all those not in green.

Soundblaster1 · Mar 16, 2006

Very interesting. I'm glad you posted it.

Star Sabre James · Mar 16, 2006

I remember reading about this before. It is good that it was posted here. I guess tommrow I will have to do my bad Irish accent.

Vector Sigma · Mar 17, 2006

Happy St Patricks day!...

Jux · Mar 17, 2006

Nephthys · Mar 17, 2006

To all you Irish and of Irish decent!
Happy St.Paddy's Day!!
Drink plenty of green beer!

Eric · Mar 17, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

CATCH ME POT O GOLD!!!

Optimus Scourge · Mar 17, 2006

Happy St Patricks day! Break out the green beer!

GigatronSama · Mar 18, 2006

By the way.

Irish descent Catholic here. Swore off alchahol for Lent.

Belgrath · Mar 18, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Darkravager · Mar 18, 2006

It also should be mentioned that while many of the barbaric tribes were sacking Europe, the Irish monks preserved learning and the original languages of the Scriptures.

I gotta say I'm really proud that the one man who helped to preserve Western society is commemorated by a bunch of drunken jackasses. Huzzah for humanity.

Chaos Muffin · Mar 18, 2006

yay, green

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The History of St. Patrick

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Log in or Sign up

The History of St. Patrick

03Mach1 Logic has been replaced with blind ignorance.

Gigatron_2005 President of Calendars

Zero Prime Windows user no more

Soundblaster1 The Heisenberg of Toys

Star Sabre James The JUICE

Vector Sigma <b><i><font color=FFFF00>Crazy Colon Burner!!!!</b Veteran

Jux Please, call me Steve. Veteran

Nephthys Banned

Eric Well-Known Member

Optimus Scourge Arcee's boy toy Veteran

GigatronSama Mr. Insomnia Veteran

Belgrath Boom! Nutshot!

Darkravager Zombie Hunter

Chaos Muffin Misadventure Veteran

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