Today’s St. Patrick’s day, a day associated with Ireland, celebrated with parades, parties, and shamrocks, and where everything and everyone is Emerald Green.
For the Christians, it spiritually celebrates Patrick (Roman name Patricius), who discovered Christianity, brought it to Ireland, converted countless of Irish, rose to become Bishop of the Catholic Church, was ordained as a Saint, and became the Patron Saint of Ireland.
Except most of that last sentence isn’t quite correct: It’s myth and legend, possibly crafted more for advertising and expanding the faith rather than for fact.
Let’s take a look, and perhaps discover more reasons to drink something green today:
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Saint Patrick was the first Christian Missionary in Ireland! | |
| ✗ | Hardly. There were already Christians and priests in Ireland, he was one of many missionaries who preached Christianity in that country. |
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Saint Patrick was Irish! | |
| ✗ | Not even close. Saint Patrick a Roman Briton, who at 16 years old was kidnapped by Irishmen who raided his rich parents’ estate, took him to Ireland, and then enslaved him as a lonely shepherd. |
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Saint Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland! | |
| ✗ | Not actual snakes, Ireland is too cold. After converting to Christianity and while rising to the position of Bishop Patrick worked to convert Celtics, Druids, and Wiccans (who worshiped the Serpent as one of their deities) to Christianity. Snakes refers to pagan worshipers. To help convert the Irish pagans Patrick cleverly repurposed Pagan rituals into Christian ones. |
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No writings of Saint Patrick exist today. | |
| ✗ | Not true. A declaration of faith and an open letter of protest, each written by him, survive today, and an entire book documents a hymn, confession, and more attributed to him.
For example:
Almost seems ironic that some people celebrate him by engaging in such activities. I’m guessing it’s that Green Beer. |
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Saint Patrick is Ireland’s only Patron Saint! | |
| ✗ | Wrong. Ireland has three Patron Saints: Brigid of Kildarea, Columba, and Patrick. But, unlike the others, Patrick is also the Patron Saint of Nigeria. |
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Saint Patrick is a real saint! | |
| ✗ | Sorry, he was never officially canonized by Rome. He became a saint by popular acclaim. |
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Green is the color of Saint Patrick’s Day! | |
| ✗ | Incorrect! It’s certainly the color of Montgomery Scott’s mystery booze, but the original color of St. Patrick’s Day was blue, the color of St. Patrick’s vestments. In the 16th Century Ireland’s official flag was a gold harp on an Azure blue background, and today it’s still Ireland’s Heraldic Emblem. Green wasn’t used until Ireland started distancing themselves from England. Added Bonus! The color “Saint Patrick Blue” is RGB(35,41,122) (or, HEX #23297A) |
| The first Saint Patrick’s Day celebration was held in Ireland! | |
| ✗ | Also not true: The first parade was held March 17, 1601, in the Spanish colony of Florida, in St. Augustine. |
So, let’s celebrate Saint Patrick, the Myth and Legend until green has you turning blue! 
Thanks for Reading!
