With Saint Patrick being celebrated a couple of weeks ago, let’s dive into the origins of the popular celebration because we are tired of writing our thesis!
Saint Patrick and the Snakes
A perhaps obscure story about the Irish celebration is that Saint Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland into the sea. This metaphor likely relates to the Saint’s battle against “pagan” religious and cultural practices. Indeed, the figure of the snake is obviously associated with evil and heresy in Christianism, thus the metaphorical hunt of the reptile likely refers to the very real battle against Ireland’s pagan past. Furthermore, on a down-to-earth, literal basis, snakes do not survive the Irish climate, which emphasizes the story’s metaphorical nature for Christianization.
The Shamrock and the Holy Trinity: A Divine Marketing Scheme?
A more popular story is that of the Three-leaf clover, which Saint Patrick allegedly used in his Christianizing process to represent the Holy Trinity. This story is very debated, as there is no concrete evidence that he actually did that. Most historians believe that this association between what became known later as Ireland’s national symbol and the central figure of Christianity came later, and was not implemented by Saint Patrick himself. The clove, or shamrock as it is known in the country, was a long-standing indigenous symbol that the Celts considered sacred. This repurposing of a traditional symbol to adapt it to Christianity has been seen all around the world, and Ireland was no exception. The ongoing tension over the signification of these symbols can be seen for example in singer Bambie Thugh’s 2024 performance at the Eurovision, in which they presented a pre-Christian interpretation of traditional Celtic symbols.
Was Saint Patrick a Saint?
Saint Patrick was never recognized as a saint by the Catholic church but received his title thanks to his popularity. His legacy in Ireland however reveals his contested influence. First of all, he wasn’t even born in Ireland but actually in Britain, came to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16 to come back later as a missionary using methods that were not always saintly, but rather merciless.
Drinking at Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is known as a day for celebrating Irish culture and an excuse for drinking. It was not until the 1970s that drinking was allowed. When the Irish government declared it a religious holiday, selling alcohol was strictly forbidden. Drinking became popular in the ’90s when the government turned Saint Patrick’s Day into a celebration of national culture that quickly spread over to other nations.
The Leprechaun – A Little Grumpy Fairy
The Leprechaun, known as the little green man with an orange beard and green suit, is an icon of St. Patrick’s Day. An important character from Irish mythology, described as a little grumpy fairy that likes to trick people with its magic. For their work as a cobbler for other fairies they are paid in gold coins, they like to hide in gold puts at the end of a rainbow. The myth says if you catch a Leprechaun you might get lucky and they will reveal where they hid their gold pot.
Alex and Julina
BAISmag 