Snakes & clover; the history of St. Patrick's Day
Liz Myers
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: News
When most college students think of St. Patrick's Day, usually one thing comes to mind: drinking. While many other Americans celebrate this Irish holiday with parades, green clothing and, well, more drinking, most never stop to think why.
Why have shamrocks, beer and pots of gold made their way into our calendars and settled themselves on March 17?
The history of St. Patrick's Day dates back to the fourth century in England where a boy by the name of Maewyn Succat was born in Wales. The name "Patrick" comes from his Romanticized name Patricius, which was later changed to Patrick.
His parents were wealthy Romans, and his father was a Roman-British army officer. Although most of his life is a mystery and many facts are disputable, historians believe that in his teens Succat was kidnapped by marauders and sold into slavery in Ireland.
Succat escaped his captors after about six years and found his way back to England. Of course, during the time of his enslavement, Succat began having religious dreams and visions. It was these visions that prompted him to journey to France and enter the monastery where he would study for the priesthood.
Once he finished his religious studies, he returned to Ireland so that he could help turn the pagans into Christians. He accomplished this by building churches and schools, and speaking the word of God.
By the time of his death, March 17, 432 AD, he had become Ireland's patron saint and had converted most of the Irish population to Christianity. The day of his death was named in his honor and celebrated every year thereafter.
Although changing the island's religious outlook was his greatest feat, St. Patrick also left behind many legends that have become familiar stories to the Irish. One of the most common is that tale of St. Patrick's driving out all the snakes of Ireland. Historians believe that that is a metaphor for the saint's good deeds. Because snakes are seen as a pagan symbol, the story symbolizes St. Patrick driving away paganism and its never returning-and to this day there are no snakes in Ireland.
Why have shamrocks, beer and pots of gold made their way into our calendars and settled themselves on March 17?
The history of St. Patrick's Day dates back to the fourth century in England where a boy by the name of Maewyn Succat was born in Wales. The name "Patrick" comes from his Romanticized name Patricius, which was later changed to Patrick.
His parents were wealthy Romans, and his father was a Roman-British army officer. Although most of his life is a mystery and many facts are disputable, historians believe that in his teens Succat was kidnapped by marauders and sold into slavery in Ireland.
Succat escaped his captors after about six years and found his way back to England. Of course, during the time of his enslavement, Succat began having religious dreams and visions. It was these visions that prompted him to journey to France and enter the monastery where he would study for the priesthood.
Once he finished his religious studies, he returned to Ireland so that he could help turn the pagans into Christians. He accomplished this by building churches and schools, and speaking the word of God.
By the time of his death, March 17, 432 AD, he had become Ireland's patron saint and had converted most of the Irish population to Christianity. The day of his death was named in his honor and celebrated every year thereafter.
Although changing the island's religious outlook was his greatest feat, St. Patrick also left behind many legends that have become familiar stories to the Irish. One of the most common is that tale of St. Patrick's driving out all the snakes of Ireland. Historians believe that that is a metaphor for the saint's good deeds. Because snakes are seen as a pagan symbol, the story symbolizes St. Patrick driving away paganism and its never returning-and to this day there are no snakes in Ireland.
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