Customs and Traditions of
St. Patrick's Day

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was
born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't
get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.

Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan.
At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders
that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where
he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre
for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware
that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the pagans that had overrun
the country. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two
years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that
Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset
the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped
each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries
across the country. He also set up schools and churches which
would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick
retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day
has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually
substantiated. Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised
people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop
that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Though originally a Catholic
holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems
from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the
three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his
sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers
adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the
first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in America, in Boston.