Fun Facts About St. Patrick's Day
Top o' the mornin' to ya! No, I am not Irish. No, green is not my favorite color. And no, I am not crazy about traditional Irish food. But, who doesn't like a good and lucky reason to drink green beer (or in my case, coffee that I add green food coloring to) once a year?
Did you know...
About St. Patrick
*The famous St. Patrick was not Irish, nor was his name Patrick. He was born in 385 AD in Roman Britain, NOT Ireland. And though not considered as pure fact, it is believed that his real name may have been Maewyn Succat. However, for the sake of continuity, I will refer to him as Patrick from here on out.
*When he was sixteen, Patrick was stolen from his family, sold into slavery by nearby fighting tribes, and taken to Gaelic Ireland. For many years, he toiled away as a shepherd for his master's sheep. But six years after his capture, he claimed that God spoke to him one night telling him that a ship was ready to take him back home. Believing this was a sign that he was meant to leave Ireland, he managed to escape his confinement, and begin a new life.
*While in slavery, Patrick grew to become an extremely religious Christian man. Once he became free, he studied religion in France, and soon after became a priest, and then in 432 AD, was made a bishop and given the name Patricius (Latin for Patrick) by the Pope.
*He returned to Ireland in an attempt to convert the local Druid (pagan) population to Christianity. At first, Patrick was viewed negatively for his Christian beliefs, but over the next 30 years, was slowly embraced by the Irish people. He became the most influential figure in the religious conversion of Ireland from paganism to Christianity.
*Patrick became Saint Patrick upon his death in 461 AD. The day was March 17th. Sound familiar?
About St. Patrick's Day symbols and legends
*Irish people in America celebrate St. Patrick's Day in order to remember their homeland. The first parade was held in Boston, where many Irish people settled, in 1737.
*The shamrock is the most famous symbol found on St. Patty's Day. It grows naturally in Ireland, and was used by St. Patrick to teach about the Christian Holy Trinity because of its three leaves.
*The legend of leprechauns began with the belief that small fairies danced all day and wore out their shoes. Other small fairies, called leprechauns, fixed them at night while they slept. They were paid in gold coins, which they supposedly stored in very large pots.
*The "luck of the Irish" is actually a bit of a tongue-in-cheek statement. Historically speaking, the Irish did not have (good) luck. Quite often in fact, they suffered invasions and famines that killed millions.
*The "wearing of the green" encompasses wearing shamrocks and green clothing and accessories. Green first became associated with Ireland in the mid to late 1600s when the color appeared on flags and was worn in the form of shamrocks and green ribbons.
~Knowledge is Power~
My learning experiences come from:
Adair, Daryl and Cronin, Mike. The Wearing of the Green:
A History of St. Patrick's Day. Routledge. London. 2002.
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Landau, Elaine. St. Patrick's Day: Parades, Shamrocks, and Leprechauns.
Enslow Publishers, Inc. Berkley Heights, NJ. 2002.
