St. Patrick's Day History

The origins of St. Patrick’s Day date back to fifth century Britain and a man named Maewyn Succat.  Maewyn Succat was born to wealthy parents toward the end of the fourth century.  At age 16, the course of his life was changed forever when his family’s Welsh estate was attacked by Irish raiders.  He was taken prisoner and sold into slavery.

Throughout the duration of his captivity, he labored as a shepherd in the County Mayo region of Ireland.  Due to the lonely nature of his occupation, he sought comfort in religion and converted to Christianity.  After six years in slavery, Maewyn escaped, seeking refuge in Gaul.  Following his escape, he had a vision in which an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary.  He obliged this request, studying in a monastery under the tutelage of St. Germain for twelve years.  It was during this time that he adopted the Christian name Patrick.  Completing his studies, he was ordained as a priest and set out for Ireland to accept his mission.

While it is an exaggeration that Patrick introduced Christianity into Ireland, he was instrumental in its growth across the nation.  He traveled throughout Ireland establishing monasteries, schools, and churches.  He ministered to Irish Christians and worked to convert the remaining pagans.  It is thought his success was due to his innovative methods.  Rather than attempting to completely discredit and eradicate pagan beliefs and traditions, Patrick integrated them into his teachings.  One example of this was his use of the shamrock to serve as a metaphor for the Trinity.  He reasoned that the Trinity, like the shamrock, consisted of three separate elements of the same entity.  His conversion of countless pagans is believed to be the source of the well-known metaphorical myth of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland.

After many years of spreading Christianity in Ireland, Patrick died in approximately 460 A.D.  As a result of his work, he has become the most recognized patron saint of Ireland.  The date of his death, March 17th, is celebrated as his feast day.

Traditionally on the anniversary of his death, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would forego fasting for one day.  On this day, they would indulge in feasts of Irish bacon and cabbage and drink beer and ale.  Over time, these traditions have grown into an international holiday, with celebrations in Ireland, Great Britain, the United States, Argentina, and numerous other locales.

In the United States, Americans celebrate the holiday by dressing in green, attending parades, and drinking green beer.  The earliest American celebrations date back to the mid-eighteenth century in Boston and New York.  New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become the largest parade in the nation, lasting more than five hours with over 150,000 participants.  Other notable American celebrations take place in Philadelphia, Savannah, and Chicago.  Chicago’s celebration is known for the unusual custom of dyeing the Chicago River green.

Centuries after his passing, St. Patrick’s impact is still felt today through the many celebrations held in his honor throughout the world.  This holiday has stood the test of time and has proven that almost everyone embraces the ability to be Irish for a day.