Irish Events: Saint Patrick’s Day
Facts, stories and information on Ireland’s patron saint, St Pat
Did he chase the snakes out of the country? Why is he celebrated on March 17th? Did he spread Christianity? Was he a slave? Did he like a pint of Guinness?
For Irish people across the world, and plenty of people who are prepared to wear a bit of green for the day in order to join in the fun, March 17th is a major occasion. It is a time to don giant novelty Guinness hats and drink as if prohibition is about to be introduced the next day.
Saint Patrick’s Day, due to the large Irish diaspora, is celebrated all over the world, and in spectacular fashion. Obviously Dublin is the main place to be, but huge parties take place as far apart as Boston and New York in the United States of America and Sydney in Australia. Everyone wants to hail the patron saint of hilarious public drunkenness (oh, and Ireland, of course).
But despite all those people breathing beer fumes in each others’ faces in order to celebrate the magical job St Pat did, very few people actually know anything about him.
In fact, the most famous story about St Patrick is probably utter nonsense. Legend has it that Saint Patrick somehow managed to chase all the snakes out of Ireland, which is why none live there now. Well, if he did that, then he did an extremely thorough job, as he also managed to remove any trace of fossilised remains that would have indicated that snakes lived in Ireland in the first place. If he managed that as well, then, heck, the boy deserves a drink.
No, the truth about St Pat is a wee bit more mundane than the snake-chasing, Samuel L Jackson-esque superhero image that some have of him. He was born as Maewyn Succat in either Scotland or Wales (history is a little hazy on this one), during the 4th century AD.
He first came to Ireland after being nabbed by an Irish raiding party, and was taken as a slave. Six years later he escaped and returned to Britain, but later in life elected to return to Ireland and spread Christianity. He created monasteries across the country, and the uptake of Christianity in Ireland is largely attributed to him.
Not quite as exciting as the snake-chasing, is it? Ah well, who cares – the historical origins of the day have long since been overtaken by the excuse to have a grand old party. The celebration of St Patrick is now a celebration of Irishness. Another pint of Guinness anyone?
