St. Patrick's Day Corner
Who is Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born on the west coast of Britain and was originally named Patricius Nagonus Sucatus. He died on March 17 most likely in 491 A.D., and thus, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated each year on March 17.
Much of what we know about St. Patrick comes from his written works, which includes the Confessio. In it, he wrote that at the age of 16, he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave.
Although he came from a Christian family, he was not very religious before his capture. However, his enslavement strengthened his faith, and after escaping at the age of 22, he returned to Britain to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in 417.
In approximately 431, Patrick was made a bishop by Saint Germanus who sent him to Ireland in 435 (approximately) to succeed Saint Palladius, the first bishop, who had died earlier that year.
His first convert, Dichu, gave Patrick a large barn to be used as a church sanctuary. This sanctuary became Patrick's chosen retreat, and it was there that he later died.
Although Patrick was not the first Christian missionary sent to Ireland, he seems to have had the most impact in converting Ireland to Christianity. He established the Catholic Church throughout Ireland, traveling throughout the country preaching, teaching, building churches, opening schools and monasteries, and converting the population.
One famous legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though it is likely that post-glacial Ireland never actually had snakes. Popular theory is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the pagans. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by the three leaves of the shamrock to explain the "three divine persons in the one god".
Irish Legends
The Leprechaun, an Irish fairy, is depicted as a short, old man who repairs fairy shoes while sitting under a tree. These unfriendly tricksters always possess a hidden pot of gold and according to legend, if he is caught he can be persuaded by the threat of harm, to reveal the location of the gold. However, if the captor's eyes ever look away from the leprechaun, the leprechaun will vanish and all hopes of finding the gold will be lost.
At the top of a castle in Cork, Ireland, is the famous Blarney Stone - known to endow those who kiss it with the gift of the power of persuasiveness, or the gift of gab. The legend states that an old woman once cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to talk sweetly, enabling him to persuade anyone into doing as he wished. Tourists still frequently kiss the Blarney Stone in hopes of obtaining the gift of gab.
The Main Holidays
Christmas
Thanksgiving
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The Minor Holidays
4th of July
Groundhog Day
Cinco de Mayo
St. Patrick's Day
Mardi Gras
St. Patrick Folk Song
The Wearing Of The Green
O Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news that's goin' round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish ground!
No more Saint Patrick's Day we'll keep, his color can't be seen
For there's a cruel law ag'in the Wearin' o' the Green.
I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand
And he said, How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?
She's the most distressful country that ever yet was seen
For they're hanging men and women there for the Wearin' o' the Green.
So if the color we must wear be England's cruel red
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod
But never fear, 'twill take root there, though underfoot 'tis trod.
When laws can stop the blades of grass from growin' as they grow
And when the leaves in summer-time their color dare not show
Then I will change the color too I wear in my caubeen
But till that day, please God, I'll stick to the Wearin' o' the Green.
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