by Linda Paul

Created on: September 04, 2007

Traditions abound on St. Patrick's Day, including wearing of the green, drinking green beer, and watching for leprechauns. St. Patrick's Day originated, of course, in Ireland as at first a holy day and later as a symbol of Irish Nationalism. But, how many people in the western world actually think of St. Patrick's Day as a religious holiday?

Actually St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated as a holiday in America in 1737 in Boston. Even then, it was considered to be a secular holiday and not a religious one. Perhaps because of it's non-religious overtones, it became a very popular holiday in a very short time. Because of the influx of Irish immigrants into the United States, there are now actually more people of Irish descent in the U.S. than there are in Ireland. Due to this fact perhaps, the holiday has become more important in this country than it is in Ireland.

The story of St. Patrick tells us that he was born in either Scotland or Roman England, sometime between 373 and 390 C.E. Most historians believe that his name was actually Maewyn, although he used the Roman name, Patricius or Patrick. His father may have been a Roman soldier serving in Britain. While he was with his family in Wales, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. Some stories say he was 6 years old, some say 16.

Eventually he escaped his captors and fled to Gaul or France. It would appear that Patrick found his new faith of Christianity while in France. He claimed that God have given him visions and that God had called him to return to Ireland and convert the Irish from Paganism to Christianity. Interestingly enough, Patrick's family were Pagan, and worshipped a pantheon of Roman Gods. But, it was not to England that Patrick was called on his mission, but back to his land of captivity, Ireland.

Patrick returned to Ireland, and began to preach Christianity, denouncing Paganism in general and Druidism in particular. Because of the politics at that time, and the power of the Druids in Ireland, Patrick was repeatedly arrested. He managed to escape each time and with each escape became more dedicated to his mission.

However, he also realized that sometimes in order to beat the enemy, you must join them first. Thus he increasingly incorporated pagan rituals, myths and beliefs into his Christian preaching. By the time of his death, he has merged many elements of Paganism and Christianity and set up monasteries staffed by Irish clergy trained in this blended wisdom.

His death is thought to

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