Out of all the patron saints in the world, one that is almost universally celebrated is Saint Patrick; patron saint of Ireland. Every 17th March in cities and towns across Ireland and across the world people celebrate St Patrick's day. In New York they drink green beer and have huge marches with Irish bands. In Chicago they even dye the river green. Key buildings across the world turn their buildings green in celebration. It is a day that unites many people with Irish ties or ancestry or none at all. What is often misunderstood is the real life of St Patrick himself. We are going to investigate this most famous of patron saints.
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Can you imagine what Ireland must have been like long ago?
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Who ruled Ireland?
Ireland had many minor kings ruling over different parts of the country but they were all under the “High King” (Ard Rí) who lived at Tara in County Meath. Five roads led to Tara, but they were hardly more than tracks and travelling was very difficult. The chiefs and some of the soldiers had horses and chariots but mostly people walked everywhere they wanted to go. They had to carry food for the journey and to watch out all the time for wild animals or for people who might want to capture them.
In those days in Ireland men, women, boys and girls were bought as slaves. Irish chiefs went usually to the coasts of Britain in their CURRACHS – boats made of animal skin stretched over wooden frames – to destroy villages and carry off slaves. |
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As we know, Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and people around the world celebrate this every year on the 17th March. Patrick, however, was NOT born in Ireland and there are differing opinions as to where he was actually born.
St. Patrick is traditionally associated with the SHAMROCK plant, which he possibly used to explain the concept of the Trinity. |
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St. Patrick’s value, however, doesn’t really come from the historical details, but from the inspiration of a man who returned to the country where he had been a child slave in order to bring the message of Christ.
WHERE WAS PATRICK BORN?
WHEN WAS PATRICK BORN?
Patrick’s father CALPURNIUS, was a deacon in the local church, so Patrick must have enjoyed a fairly comfortable start in life, however he was not a believer.
He was born into a world centred on Rome and this had a big influence on his early years. He was educated as any Roman child of the time – learning reading, writing and arithmetic. He then went on to study the Latin language, although he missed out on his training in Latin composition and oratory. Later in life he regretted his lack of higher education. |
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This was a very unsafe time for Roman Britons. Most families were very worried and hoped that the Barbarians would not attack their homes. However, their worst fears came true when an Irish raiding party, believed to be relations of NIALL, the most powerful ruler of his time in Ireland and a famous sea-faring warrior, stormed Patrick's home seeking plunder and slaves to carry back to Ireland.
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The villagers must have been terrified at the sight of these ‘pirates’ as they killed and butchered randomly. Patrick was taken captive amongst the confusion, probably because he was young and fit and could therefore be sold as a slave. So at the age of sixteen Patrick was kidnapped from his family and home, not knowing what would happen to him or what the future would hold. It is difficult to imagine how Patrick felt as he was being taken away from the village. Family and friends lay dead whilst others screamed and cried and houses burned. Worst of all would have been the uncertainty of his fate.
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The Irish raiders may have looked uncivilized and shaggy haired but they were also courageous and ruthless. They had come for what they could steal, use or sell for profit. Gold, valuables, household objects, farming implements and the young and able were worth kidnapping as they could be sold as slaves.
How did Patrick react to being taken as a slave? Did he strive to control his fear and face with courage and knowledge of God’s presence whatever the pagans could do to him?
How did Patrick react to being taken as a slave? Did he strive to control his fear and face with courage and knowledge of God’s presence whatever the pagans could do to him?
Patrick came to believe that this was a PUNISHMENT for his lack of faith. He was put to work for SIX YEARS herding sheep and pigs on SLEMISH Mountain in County Antrim, near Ballymena.
Patrick spent much of this time praying. He tells us that his faith increased and that he would sometimes pray up to 100 times in one day and at night as many. |
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Patrick's life as a slave was terrible. He recalled how there were times he was hungry and near naked, freezing with cold in the Irish weather. He explained how 1 woman was worth the price of 3 cows at the time. Human life seemed worthless as a slave. Female slaves would be expected to cook meals, clean and make clothes. They would work day and night. Patrick admitted he was nearly at the point of collapse many times. The thoughts of home and being torn from his family must have also tormented him.
Yet, alone in Ireland in this despair he describes how he was guided by the Holy Spirit and the memories he had of the Gospel. Patrick was converted. We can see his experience by his own words on the subject. |
The ship was at sail for three days before they reached a land, which was deserted and where there was no food. They travelled throughout France and Italy for two months. Scholars suggest that on the Island of St. Honorat, off the French Riviera coast, Patrick spent time in a famous monastery. Later they all nearly died of hunger, however after many adventures Patrick finally reached his old home again and spent some time with relatives. You can imagine his joy at seeing them all and how he must have enjoyed the comfort of his lovely home after his hard times.
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Back home with his family Patrick had another vivid DREAM. He heard the voice of the Irish…’
Patrick was soon ordained as a DEACON yet when the time came for a bishop to be sent to Ireland, Patrick was not chosen instead a bishop called PALLADIUS was chosen. Palladius, however, died shortly after arriving in Ireland, consequently Patrick was consecrated Bishop and was able to finally return to Ireland.
Someone had spotted the arrival of these odd strangers and a messenger had gone to tell his chief, Dichu. Meanwhile Patrick and his friends had left their boat and were walking towards the Chief’s house. Suddenly they were surrounded by huge snarling dogs and with them was DICHU, the chief. He must have seen something very special about Patrick for he immediately called the dogs off and listened to this stranger who knew his language; he had come in peace.
Patrick talked, telling him about the God who loved all men and eventually Dichu believed in God and was baptised He gave Patrick a barn to hold his first service. The name of the barn in Irish is SABHALL (Saul), and all down the years, to this present day, there have been Christian churches on this very place. |
There were probably small groups of Christians in Ireland even before Patrick arrived. Patrick’s mission seemed to cover a wide area in north-east, central and western Ireland and among people who had no contact with Christianity.
Scholars suggest that Patrick needed the goodwill of the High King of Ireland called LAOGHAIRE, if his mission was to succeed. Patrick achieved this though Laoghaire never became a Christian.
Patrick was eager to visit MILIUCC, his former master at Slemish; however Miliucc wanted nothing to do with Patrick or his religion. When he heard of Patrick’s approach, fearing that Patrick would put him under a spell, he gathered all his property in his home and set his house on fire and consequently killed himself too.
Scholars suggest that Patrick needed the goodwill of the High King of Ireland called LAOGHAIRE, if his mission was to succeed. Patrick achieved this though Laoghaire never became a Christian.
Patrick was eager to visit MILIUCC, his former master at Slemish; however Miliucc wanted nothing to do with Patrick or his religion. When he heard of Patrick’s approach, fearing that Patrick would put him under a spell, he gathered all his property in his home and set his house on fire and consequently killed himself too.
Patrick set about baptising and confirming converts. He was anxious to set up a clergy that would continue his work. Patrick tried to fit Christianity into Irish society by adapting the cherished religious values and practices of the Celts to Christianity.
Patrick easily brought Oak groves, sacred wells and festivals into line with Christianity. Patrick’s mission was very successful, which we can see in his ‘Confession’ that he baptised thousands of men and women: |
Patrick’s work in bringing Christianity to Ireland was not easy:
There are many stories about his journeys around the country and the miracles he was supposed to have performed. Some are amusing and interesting and we must think of them as stories. For truth, we must trust the writings Saint Patrick himself is known to have left us.
- The Druids hated him
- The chiefs did not want him to get too powerful.
There are many stories about his journeys around the country and the miracles he was supposed to have performed. Some are amusing and interesting and we must think of them as stories. For truth, we must trust the writings Saint Patrick himself is known to have left us.
St Patrick's day is celebrated in over 200 countries around the world. Although it is an Irish Patron Saint who is being celebrated, St Patrick's day has been adopted for many reasons. Sometimes it is for the vast numbers of people around the world with Irish ancestry to celebrate their Irish roots. For others it is a religious holiday to remember St Patrick and his mission to Ireland. For others it has become a festive event with little link to its religious background.
Lets look how it is celebrated around the world.
Lets look how it is celebrated around the world.
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St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in towns and cities right across the globe, but it's probably fair to say that nowhere can the festivities match the excitement and atmosphere of St. Patrick's Day in Ireland.
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is more of a religious holiday similar to Christmas and Easter. Many Irish people start the day by going to mass and offering prayers for the Saint and missionaries all over the world. After that people flock to their local village or town to see the annual Saint Patrick's Day parade – and this is where the real celebrations begin! With grand parades, community feasts, charity show, the mass, St Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland with great gusto. The parades, shamrocks, and green beer are provided primarily for tourists. In fact, it has turned out to be one of the most celebrated events in Ireland and a major tourist attraction. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by the Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish (usually in Australia, North America, and Ireland), hence the phrase, "Everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day." Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish. Saint Patrick's Day parades in Ireland date from the late 19th century, originating in the growing sense of Irish nationalism. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five-day festival; over 500,000 people attended the 2006 parade. With bands, music, dance, shamrock, leprechauns, green coloured clothing and loads of power packed performance, the Irish parade on Saint Patrick's Day is a sight to behold! Almost everything in Ireland is closed on Saint Patrick's Day with the exception of pubs and restaurants. Many Irish people wear a bunch of shamrocks ("three-leaf clover") on their lapels or caps on this day or green, white, and orange badges (after the colours of the Irish flag). Girls and boys wear green in their hair. Artists draw shamrock designs on people's cheeks as a cultural sign, including American tourists. The day is celebrated by the Church of Ireland as a Christian festival. Saint Patrick's Day as a celebration of Irish culture was rarely acknowledged by Northern Irish loyalists, who consider it a festival of the Irish Republicans. The Belfast City Council recently agreed to give public funds to its parade for the first time; previously the parade was funded privately. The Belfast parade is based on equality and only the flag of St. Patrick is supposed to be used as a symbol of the day to prevent it being seen as a time which is exclusively for Republicans and Nationalists. This allowed both Unionists and Nationalists to celebrate the day together. The Unionists (orange-men) wear orange instead of green on St. Patrick's Day; both colours are in the Irish flag. |
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The largest Saint Patrick's Day parade in the UK is held in Birmingham over a two mile route through the city centre. The organisers describe it as the third biggest parade in the world after Dublin and New York. Other Saint Patrick's Day parades take place around the country including in London where the largest minority community is Irish. Manchester hosts a two week Irish festival in the weeks prior to St Patrick's Day, not surprising giving that the city claims the largest Irish population in Great Britain outside of London. The festival includes an Irish Market based at the city's town hall which flies the Irish tricolour opposite the Union Flag.
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The early Irish immigrants like the English, Dutch, German, French and the likes, brought their traditions to the United States. But it was not until 1737 that the immigrants really celebrated the Day. Irish colonists brought Saint Patrick's Day to what is now the United States of America. During the first civic and public celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in the 13 colonies, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737, The Charitable Irish Society of Boston organized what was the first Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the colonies on 17 March 1737. The first celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in New York City was held at the Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1756, and New York's first Saint Patrick's Day Parade was held on 17 March 1762 by Irish soldiers in the British Army. Held since 1762, the New York City parade on St Patrick's Day now draws more than one million spectators each year. In 1780, General George Washington, who commanded soldiers of Irish descent in the Continental Army, allowed his troops a holiday on 17 March. This event became known as The St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike.
In the US, Americans celebrate the holiday by wearing green clothing. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green-coloured clothing and items. Some cities paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green. Chicago even dyes its river green. Savannah dyes its downtown city fountains green. Indianapolis dyes its Central Canal green. University of Missouri Rolla - St. Pat's Board Alumni paint 12 city blocks Kelly green with mops before the annual parade. |
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Around St. Patrick's Day, the city of Florence hosts 'Festa Irlandese' - ten days of live music, food and drink. The event takes place in a huge tent and attracts thousands of visitors who avidly consume the Italian interpretation of Irish food and drink, including potato soup, beef in Guinness, smoked salmon and gallons of stout.
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Munich is the only German city holding a St. Patrick's Day parade owing to the considerably large Irish community. The parade is organized by the German-Irish Society of Bavaria and has been held every year since 1996. Meanwhile it has evolved into the largest in continental Europe and features not only Irish/Scots/English, but also German clubs and societies. Following the 2 km-parade, which usually takes place the Sunday preceding 17 March, is an open air party with live music.
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In Seoul, members of the expatriate community congregate on Daehakro (Taehongno), and a small parade goes up the street and then down again. Parade members include local sports teams, the Irish Community, and several Korean marching bands. In 2007, the Marronier Park near Daehakro was filled with partygoers sampling Irish stew and Guinness.
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The tradition of holding parades is also upheld in Tokyo and every year you can watch and participate in the parade on Omote Sando. The Tokyo parade is organised by the Irish Network Japan (INJ) and was first held in 1992 with the support of the then Irish Ambassador to Japan, Mr. James Sharkey. Various dignitaries from many countries participate in the parade including the deputy prime minister of Ireland Mary Hearney in 2001. About 2,000 participants march down fashionable Omotesando Avenue, lined for the occasion by Irish and Japanese flags, cheered on by as many as 7,000 spectators. The Japanese love a good party and they are particularly fond of all things Irish
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