The Truth about St. Patrick's Day

 

While St. Patrick’s Day is now associated with wearing green, parades (when they're not canceled), and beer, the holiday is grounded in history that dates back more than 1,500 years. The earliest known celebrations were held in the 17th century on March 17, marking the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick in the 5th century. 

As a teacher, I love of course researching the facts and history, so the wonderful patrons at the Basement Club experienced some surprising facts while listening to some fabulous music, not from Ireland. Of course, it is always fun to celebrate a holiday with friends and why not learn something along the way. After all, that is what Second Life is all about, to learn new things plus more. :)

Patrick was not born in Ireland but in Britain and was sold as a slave to a priest in Ireland. The snakes Patrick is associated with may not have been true either, because during that time it was too cold for snakes and no fossils from that period have ever been found. 

The red-haired, green-clothed Leprechaun is commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns likely stems from Celtic belief in fairies— tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Did you know that Leprechauns have their own holiday? Yes, it is May 13th. 

Wearing green has become a staple of St. Patrick’s Day, but the holiday was originally associated with the color blue. It’s thought that the shift to green happened because of Ireland’s nickname “The Emerald Isle,” the green in the Irish flag and the shamrock, or clover.

I think green looks pretty good, don't you?

Shamrocks are considered sacred and symbolize the beginning of Spring. No wonder the Irish drank beer and partied because it was going to get warmer. Ireland is not known for a mild climate, so Spring is welcomed. Your odds of finding a four-leaf clover are about 1 in 10,000.

While Americans eat corned beef and cabbage for the traditional meal for this holiday, the ancient Irish used to use ham instead, but because so many Irish came to the United States it was cheaper to use beef.

With all of this recent talk about popes, it’s worth noting that St. Patrick never got canonized by one, making his saintly status somewhat questionable. In all fairness, St. Patrick wasn’t the only saint that didn’t go through proper canonization.

We hope you had a fantastic St. Patrick's Day and parties. May St. Patrick guard you all the days of your life.

Let's get green and let’s get lucky! Happy St Paddy’s Day!