History Of St. Patrick's Day
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The history of St Patricks Day is not what many may imagine it to be. A young boy, confused about religious convictions, is taken captive by Irish marauding slave traders, intent on ravaging Scottish villages and taking prisoners to do the work on the island farms. Patrick (the Christian name, not the pre-baptismal name) was the son of a man who was important in the city where the boy grew up, and this religious influence in life came from the lad's grandfather. While growing up however, Patrick did not participate in the religious beliefs of his family. After being captured, Patrick found prayer to be efficacious on a daily basis, which provided religious sustenance through trials as a slave.
St. Patricks Day history relates that Patrick was taken captive in the early 400's A.D. and sent to Ireland. Six years were spent as a slave, tending sheep and suffering through many mistreatments and trials. The young man tended to have dreams, and probably because of the small religious influence in life, attributed these dreams to a holy influence impacting upon existence as a captive. The boy had dreams of getting up and running away, and did so. How someone can just get up and walk away from slavery is not clear, but according to legend the lad escaped. So this young Scottish boy found himself now journeying back to Scotland, and dreaming of becoming a missionary. Patrick decided he would work and save money until there was enough to put himself through religious education, which was accomplished when he was in his 40's. St. Patricks Day history relates that Patrick was taken captive in the early 400's A.D. and sent to Ireland. Six years were spent as a slave, tending sheep and suffering through many mistreatments and trials. The young man tended to have dreams, and probably because of the small religious influence in life, attributed these dreams to a holy influence impacting upon existence as a captive. The boy had dreams of getting up and running away, and did so. How someone can just get up and walk away from slavery is not clear, but according to legend the lad escaped. So this young Scottish boy found himself now journeying back to Scotland, and dreaming of becoming a missionary. Patrick decided he would work and save money until there was enough to put himself through religious education, which was accomplished when he was in his 40's.
The missionary was not the very first missionary to Ireland. An earlier mission was undertaken by a person named Palladius, who was there only for a short time before succumbing to sickness and then death. Shortly thereafter, the church sent Patrick, who joyfully went in Palladius' place. Patrick had already decided, prior to arriving in Ireland, what the plan would be to introduce the natives to Christianity. The decision was that he would first try to convert the chieftains of the tribes, since much authority was wielded by chieftains over the clans, and this would be the best way to influence from the top down. Next, because Ireland was a very pagan country, he would utilize a pagan symbol, the shamrock, as an object lesson about the Trinity. The three leaves represented the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, which seemed to go over quite well with everyone, and were well understood. In this manner, Christianity soon spread over the Island and St. Patricks Day history slowly came together. Jesus commanded his disciples to be missionaries and said "Gye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19 KJV).
All throughout life the missionary created many bishops, founded churches and expanded the religion until his death on March 17 in 461. Because he founded Christianity in Ireland, he is referred to as the patron saint, and now there are yearly celebrations honoring him and his work. The holiday was now one of the most important dates for the Irish. St. Patricks Day history is celebrated not only in Ireland but all over the world by young and old. In the United States of America, the festival was first celebrated on the East coast in the early 1700's, most by affluent people. Later on it was celebrated more by those who came to America seeking freedom to worship as they pleased, in the late 1700's, after hearing of America's independence from King George III. Since so many Irish were now emigrating to America, the celebrations only grew in popularity and fervency. The festival became the opportune time to let go and have fun, celebrating and identifying with past heritage.
St. Patricks Day history is not so well known among modern generations, and most must research the topic to become familiar with it. The history of St Patricks Day is associated with the color green, perhaps because of the emerald Isle. Also, shamrock symbols are abundant, probably hearkening back to the lesson on the Trinity presented using the shamrock as a visual aid. College students and adults love to flock to popular pubs to drink green beer, and if you don't wear green, you'll most likely get pinched. Elementary schools study the history of St Patricks Day and sometimes celebrate with parties. The children may wear green top hats with shamrocks in them, wear buckled shoes and draw pictures with pots of gold at the end of rainbows, symbolizing the luck of the Irish.
The history of St Patricks Day has so influenced the American culture that the festival is celebrated with parades, similar to the Macys parade on Christmas and New Years. The celebrations usually include Irish dances, Celtic gifts displaying all types of Celtic script and Irish and Celtic symbols. Usually though, the holiday is strongly associated with drinking into the night. Cabbage and bacon is the traditional food on this holiday, because it recalls the time in recent American-Irish St. Patricks Day history when that is the only food affordable to many immigrant families. Later on the corned beef was substituted for the bacon. In the 1970's the Irish in America took the opportunity to champion the cause of Irish violence in Northern Ireland. President Carter was instrumental in helping to negotiate a peace treaty in 1998 in which both Protestants and Catholics would share rule together for the first time in the Irish Republic. In this way the festival became somewhat of a political celebration as well.
The history of St Patricks Day has evolved from the aspirations of a young Scottish lad captured and whisked away to Ireland, to full-blown celebrations of him in modern times. The Irish holiday is as interesting as it is colorful, and will continue to be celebrated for as long as people love to celebrate holidays.
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