March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day, is a day of celebration in Ireland and Irish communities throughout the United States. It is a day often filled with parades, people wearing the color green, and thoughts of shamrocks, leprechauns, and blarney stones. To the non-Irish, this all might seem very strange and have you wondering what this holiday is all about.

Saint Patrick was a real man born in the late fourth century with the given name, Maewyn Succat. He was far from a saint in his earlier years, in fact, he considered himself a pagan. At the age of 16 he was captured by a group of Irish marauders that invaded his village and sold him into slavery. He spent six years in slavery and during that time became close to God. When he finally escaped, he fled to the monastery in Gaul and studied under the bishop Saint Germain for twelve years.

During his years of study, he adopted the Christian name Patrick for himself. When his study was complete, he desired to return to Ireland to help convert pagans to Christianity. After two years of work in Scotland, he was able to accept a post as second bishop in Ireland, and there he remained for thirty-seven years.

Patrick was an extremely successful bishop and many were converted thanks to his influential preaching. Unfortunately, his success angered the Celtic Druids, and he was imprisoned several times. Each time, he escaped and returned again to his mission of converting others. He also helped to set up monasteries, schools and churches throughout his Irish homeland. Saint Patrick passed away March 17, 461, and that day has been commemorated as Saint Patrick’s Day ever since.

The celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day was originally a Catholic holy day. Over the years, it has become much more secular, and the focus has moved to become more of a celebration of being Irish. As many Irish people immigrated to America, they brought with them their customs from Ireland, and in 1737 the first official Saint Patrick’s Day was celebrated in the United States.

Many legends have followed Saint Patrick and his teaching through the years. One of the most famous symbols of Saint Patrick’s Day is the shamrock. Legend has it that he used the shamrock in his teachings about the holy trinity. People continue to wear a shamrock on this day to commemorate Saint Patrick. Another legend is that Saint Patrick had God put a curse on all the poisonous snakes of Ireland and then drove them into the sea, where they drowned. No snakes were ever indigenous to Ireland, so it is believed that this was actually a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans.

The leprechaun or Irish fairy has become another famous symbol representing Saint Patrick’s Day. According to legend, the leprechaun is a small, old man that stands only about two feet tall. He is somewhat shy and aloof and prefers to spend his time hiding from others and making shoes. Legend states these aloof old men have hidden treasures, a pot of gold. Treasure hunters try to find the gold by listening for the tapping of the leprechauns’ hammers as they’re making their shoes. If caught and threatened, the leprechaun may reveal the whereabouts of the gold. However, do not let the sneaky men out of your sight, or they may use their magic and disappear right beneath your hands.

The blarney stone is an actual stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in an Irish village. Supposedly, if you kiss the stone, you will receive the gift of persuasive eloquence or “blarney.” It is not clear how this legend came about; one story states that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. The king kissed the stone while under the spell, and it gave him the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. If you do visit Blarney Castle in Ireland, you will have to work to actual touch the stone. Thousands of tourists visit each year and find themselves having to stretch down and bend backwards, while holding bars for support, in order to reach their puckering lips towards the stone.

The celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day was originally combined with a Catholic feast. These days many think of corned beef and cabbage as the perfect Irish dinner feast. This is a more Americanized version of Irish faire, however. A more customary Irish meal would consist of an Irish lamb stew, or a meal of Irish sausages and Colcannon potatoes.

Lastly, why is it important to wear green on Saint Patrick’s Day? Mostly so school kids do not pinch you. School children thought of this tradition. Green is the color of the shamrock and also the color of spring. It is a color that is connected with hope and nature.

Although there may not be many known truths to this holiday, it is a day to remember a once brave and great bishop from Ireland. It is a day to think about our Irish ancestors and focus on the beauty of their great country. But most of all it is a day to have some fun, think about having good luck, look for that hidden treasure, and most of all, wear something green. The last thing you want is some enthusiastic 7-year-old giving you a pinch.


~Lynette is a wife and full-time mother of three from the Pacific Northwest. She has no known Irish ancestry, but thinks that leprechauns periodically come through her house, take important items and hide them from her.