St Patrick’s Day
- History:
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| "St Patrick" |
Patrick
was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer. He was growing up as
naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed
in south Wales and kidnapped this boy along with many others. Then they sold
him into slavery in Ireland. He was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned. This
was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God. Legend says, he
was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.
Finally,
he did escape, went to Britain and then to France. There he joined a monastery
and studied under St. Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years
in training. And when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling
him back to Ireland to tell them about God. The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual
autobiography, is the most important document regarding this. It tells of a
dream after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a
letter, headed "The Voice of the Irish."
So
he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted the Gaelic
Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was confident in the
Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal.
And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a king let here and a lawgiver
there, but accepted none from any.
Indeed,
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. Through active preaching, he
made important converts even among the royal families. And this fact upset the
Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. For
20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across
the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his
conversion. He developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism,
established dioceses, and held church councils.
Patrick's
doctrine is considered orthodox. Although he is not particularly noted as a man
of learning, a few of his writings remain extant: his Confession, a reply to
his detractors, and several letters. The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a
famous hymn attributed to Patrick, may date to a later period. By the end of
the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the legends have
continued to grow since then. There are many legends associated with St
Patrick. It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the
concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of Father, Son, and the
Holy Spirit. Hence its strong association with his day and name Legend also has
that; Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland. And
he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.
True, these are mostly legends. But, after some
1500 years, these legends have been inseparably combined with the facts. And
together they have helped us know much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration
of the day. Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years. He died on
March 17, AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever
since. The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland.
Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more
of a secular holiday. Or, rather, 'be an Irish Day'. And the Irish has borne it
as part of their national tradition in everywhere they populated and prospered.
The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday
celebration of the Irish culture. The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy, has become
entrenched as a chief symbol for this holiday, as is the shamrock, an ancient
symbol for the triple goddess Brigit. It is fitting that this holiday should
fall at the time of the year when the return of spring begins to seem at hand.
- What do people do?:
- · Irish brown bread.
- · Corned beef and cabbage.
- · Beef and Guinness pie.
- · Irish cream chocolate mousse cake.
- · Irish coffee.
- · Irish potato champ, also known as poundies, cally or pandy.
- · Irish stew
- Irish potato soup.
- Public life:
- Symbols:
The most common St Patrick's Day symbol is the
shamrock. The shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant and a symbol of the Holy
Trinity. Many people choose to wear the color green and the flag of the
Republic of Ireland is often seen in St Patrick’s Day parades around the world.
Irish brands of drinks are popular at St Patrick’s Day events.
Religious symbols include snakes, as well as the
Celtic cross. Some say that Saint Patrick added the Sun, a powerful Irish
symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross.
Other Irish-related symbols seen on St Patrick’s Day include the harp, which
was used in Ireland for centuries, as well as a mythological creature known as
the leprechaun and a pot of gold that the leprechaun keeps hidden.
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