St. Patrick’s Day

ShamrocksSt. Patrick’s Day is a good holiday for being (or claiming to be) Irish and for the color green. Not such a good day for snakes.

What parts of your identity do you celebrate?

3 thoughts on “St. Patrick’s Day”

  1. Here’s a free bit of info for your St. Patrick’s Day: The story of how Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland (with the Christian overtone of driving out evil at the same time) is very well known. BUT, as Paul Harvey used to say, “here’s the rest of the story”: The Irish were Pagans, worshiping a pantheon of gods (Bridgette, Ceridwyn, Cernunnos, et al) when the monk named Patrick arrived to spread the word about his one god (and his son). The snake is a Pagan symbol, representing female power–and has been vilified / demonized by the Christian beliefs across the board of other spiritual paths.
    Between the patriarchal/masculine power base of Christianity and the mission of conversion for all, the snake served as a good focus point to remove the Old Religions. So when we say that Saint Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland, for many of today’s Pagans this means he got rid of the established Pagan religions on the Emerald Isle. So if you see someone wearing something red, with no (required) “wearin’ o’ the green”…they might be expressing a counter protest against the forceful subjugation or destruction of their own chosen spiritual path by another belief system.
    And for those of you who drink green beer today, don’t drink and drive! Stay safe, my friends!

  2. During my Catholic days St Patrick’s Day occasioned a nice respite from the Lent Fast courtesy of our good Irish Bishop Thomas K. Groman. I am of Scott-Irish linage and married Catholic, but I was into the Old Faith for a time. I celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a good West Texas chicken fried steak and cream gravy!

  3. My favorite Holiday. I regard it as a springtime “Thanksgiving”. This year, I had extended family over for dinner.

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