St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
| Saint Patrick's Day |
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The Chicago River is dyed green each year for the St. Patrick's Day celebration, shown here in 2009. |
| Also called | St Patrick's Day
St Paddy's Day
Patrick's Day
Paddy's Day
St Patty's Day |
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| Observed by | Irish people and people ofIrish ancestry, non-Irish celebrants |
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| Type | National, Ethnic, Catholic |
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| Date | March 17 |
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| Observances | Attending mass or service, attending parades, attendingcéilithe, wearing shamrocks, wearing green, drinking Irish beer, drinking Irish whiskey |
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Fun Quizzes and St.Patrick's Day related questions...
THE QUESTIONS (AND ANSWERS)
1Why did St. Patrick banish snakes from Ireland?
Cowley: "He was getting rid of all those sinners and snakes to start Christianity. They were the metaphor." (Correct!)
Folliard: "St. Patrick banished snakes from Ireland after he had converted all of the people to Catholicism. There were no snakes in Ireland." (Correct!)
Casper and Runyon (answering together): "He was driving the pagan beliefs out of Ireland, so they used snakes as the metaphor. You could say that the snakes were drinking all the whiskey. That would be my reason." (Correct!)
2 Where was St. Patrick born?
Cowley: "Everybody thinks he's an Irishman, but he was actually born in Wales." (Correct!)
Folliard: "Quite controversial. He was born of Roman origin in Wales." (Correct!)
Casper and Runyon: "Scotland. They say north Britain, but that's technically Scotland. We'd rather admit that our saints are actually Scottish than British. It's easier on our souls." (Correct!)
3 What color was originally associated with St. Patrick?
Cowley: "Blue." (Correct!)
Folliard: "It was a lighter shade of green." (Wrong!)
Casper and Runyon: "I think it was blue for some reason." (Correct!)
4 Finish this St. Patrick's Day toast: "The Scots have their whiskey, the Welsh have their tongue, but the Irish have ... "
Cowley: "They have O'Donovan's Irish Pub, of course." (Wrong!)
Folliard: "The Irish had everything else, but in particular, they have the gift of the gab." (Wrong!)
Casper and Runyon: "Luck? The looks! The beautiful redheads. I don't know. We gotta go with the looks." (Wrong!)
5 Besides being a breakfast-cereal mascot, what is the official job of a leprechaun?
Cowley: "He minds the money. He's the official banker of St. Patrick's Day." (Half correct!)
Folliard: "It is to protect the pot of gold." (Half correct!)
Casper and Runyon: "To protect his pot of gold." (Half correct!)
Bonus question
True or false? Drinking massive amounts of beer has always been a tradition on St. Paddy's Day in Ireland.
Cowley: "False! When I grew up in Ireland, that was one of three days a year when the pubs were actually closed. We all went to church. But I kind of prefer the way we do it here." (Correct!)
Folliard: "That would be a travesty, if it were true. It is false. It is and was a religious holiday in Ireland." (Correct!)
Casper and Runyon: "False. It's a day of worship. They shut down the majority of the bars. The massive amounts of beer? That's what we celebrate over here." (Correct!)
Answers
1. There were never snakes in Ireland. Most likely, this was a metaphor for banishing pagan beliefs.
2. He was born around 400 A.D. to a wealthy family in Roman-controlled Britain. Exact location is up for debate, so we'll accept both Wales and Scotland.
3. Blue! The use of green didn't happen until the 18th century as a symbol of nationalism and the "wearing of the green" shamrock on lapels.
4. " ... Paddy, who's second to none!"
5. These unfriendly little guys are cobblers -- they make shoes for fairies. In their spare time, they protect that pot of gold.
Bonus: False. Before 1970, Irish pubs were closed down because St. Patrick's Day was a religious holiday. Luckily, the law was repealed.
St. Patrick is all made up. "Every single thing!"
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