I realize St. Patrick’s Day has passed but I was eager to share this anyway…
When I think about St. Patrick’s Day, I think about four leaf clovers, leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold. The purpose behind Saint Patrick’s Day has little to do with most of this.
As a teen in the early 400’s Patrick was captured and brought over from what is now Scotland to be a slave in Ireland. No, he wasn’t the first missionary and no, he didn’t literally drive any snakes away as some legends proclaim. He was the grandson of a priest and the son of a tax collector. Now as a slave in extremely pagan Ireland, Patrick found himself retreating back to the God he’d learned about at a younger age spending time in prayer. Inspired by a dream, he successfully made his escape from bondage.
When he was in his forties, after studying in the monestary, he returned to his place of slavery with the hopes of converting those in the area to Christianity. His ministry grew and increased in recognition regardless of being arrested on several occasions. He used the shamrock and its three leaves to represent the trinity being three parts in one unit. He is said to have been a humble man who recognized himself as a sinner. On March 17 in AD 461, Patrick died and it is on his day of passing we recognize the great work this man of God did sharing the love of Christ with others. The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States is believed to have begun in 1737.
So where do the other St. Patrick’s Day traditions come in? Likely from pagan tradition. With St. Patrick’s Day falling so close to the first day of spring, it could be the color green was incorporated since spring represents fertility and new growth. Also during spring time were other pagan traditions involving drunkenness and other sinful activities. The legend of driving the snakes out of Ireland was perhaps metaphoric as in he worked to drive paganism out of the land.
So, if you really want to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, how about following the heart of Patrick himself and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone?
Please visit these related blogs:
Silly Things to Do on St. Patrick’s Day
Using Secular Tradition to Glorify God: Christmas