St. Patrick's Day: Facts, Myths, and Legends

St. Patrick was Irish.
Though he is one of Ireland's patron saints, he was actually born in the UK somewhere (many historians have different thoughts as where in the UK). He was born to a Christian deacon and his wife, probably around 390. He was 16 when he was enslaved by Irish raiders who attacked his home, they transported him to Ireland and held him captive there for 6 years. Patrick later fled back home (in the UK somewhere), he then received religious instruction before returning to Ireland to serve as a missionary. 

St. Patrick was British. 
He was born in what is currently the UK but at the time it was occupied by the Romans. It is unknown whether his family was part of the Roman aristocracy or a Celtic descent. Apparently when he signed two surviving documents he wrote in Latin and signed his name, "Patricius," but according to some accounts he was born Maewyn Succat. 

St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.
In 431, before Patrick began preaching in Ireland, Pope Celestine reportedly sent a bishop known as Palladius "to the Irish believing in Christ" - an indication that some residents of the Emerald Isle had already converted by then. It was St. Patrick who built the churches, taught the Faith, and baptized the pagans into Christianity, and ordained Bishops and Priests. 

St. Patrick banished snakes from the Emerald Isle.
Legend has it that Patrick stood on an Irish hillside and delivered a sermon that drove that island's serpents into the sea. Snakes are used to represent evil in literature so when St. Patrick drove the snakes out maybe he was saying he drove out all the evil and pagan ways out of Ireland. While its true that the Emerald Isle is snake-fee, historians think it was too cold for snakes to be on the island in those times. What do you think?

Green has historically been associated with St. Patrick's Day.
The Irish countryside may be many shades of green, but knights in the Order of St. Patrick wore a color known as St. Patrick's blue. Why did green become so popular on this holiday that people began drinking green beer and wearing green? It probably dates back to the 18th century, when supporters of the Irish independence used the color to represent their cause. 

Popular St. Patrick's Day festivities have their roots in Ireland. 
Until the 1700s, St. Patrick's Day was a Roman Catholic feast only observed in Ireland. The faithful spent the somber occasion in quiet prayer at church or at home. That started to change when Irish immigrants living in the US began organizing parades and other events on March 17. It was not until 1970 that Ireland passed a law allowing bars to open and alcohol sold on St. Patrick's Day. For many people around the world, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into a secular holiday with parties, music, and food. 

Corned beef is a classic St. Patrick's Day dish.
On St. Patrick's Day, in the US, Canada, and elsewhere eat corned beef and cabbage. In Ireland, a type of bacon similar to ham is the customary on the holiday table. In the late 19th century, Irish immigrants in NYC supposedly substituted corned beef, in order to save money.