Green, gold coins, and leprechauns are recognizable symbols of the holiday best known as St. Patrick’s Day. However, many people do not know the full truth of this intriguing holiday that holds the importance of Christianity to all of Irish history.
St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday that honors Saint Patrick who died on March 17th, 451 AD in Ireland. Patrick was a Roman Briton, a Christian Missionary, bishop and apostle of Ireland, thus why it’s so common to celebrate in Ireland and not as common in other parts of the world.
As a result of his passing on March 17, the day has become a national holiday to honor such an important death to Irish culture Though we do not know how he died, it is still significant to recognize such a figure nonetheless. Patrick was, in fact, not Irish, he was actually from southwestern England. However he was held captive and taken to Ireland, as claimed in his first written “ Confessio “
He wrote two famous scriptions, one of which being the “Confessio” which describes his life’s mission to bring the light to Christianity over to the Irish, as well as his confessions of being held against his will and brought to Ireland. The “Epistula” , acting as a letter to the British king protesting the King’s treatment against the Irish Christians. Due to these actions, he got the label as a “saint” for protesting and acting out against the misfortune of the Christian religion.
Some reports debate that he may have been born in 385 or 387 AD, but he passed away March 17th, 451 AD. Many countries and churches commemorate him by holding feasts in his memory and some countries might celebrate by holding parades in his honor. Though it originated in Ireland, other countries have also helped shape the holiday we know today, such as the American tradition of wearing green attire and pinching people who are not.
Whether people are wearing green, and having fun, holding ceremonies for the saint or just having a normal day, it is guaranteed to bring people together as a religious holiday to some but as a fun holiday to all.
