(I posted this last year, but why not share it again with those who missed it)I'll start simply by saying Happy St. Patrick's Day...Get your green on...Find some place that is doing' kegs and eggs...And don't forget the corned beef and Guinness for lunch!
So what's the deal with this St. Patrick cat anyway...Well let's have a little history lesson...St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and is one of the most well known figures in Christianity....His life remains a mystery....Most of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick including the famous account of him banishing all the snakes from Ireland...Even though there were no snakes...Are false, but have become well known because blarney....Or years, and years of exaggerated storytelling....No Irishman would ever do such a thing!
St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century....It is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D.....His father was a Christian deacon...It has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives....There is no evidence that Patrick came from a religious family....At sixteen Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders while they were attacking his family's estate....They took him to Ireland where he was held captive for six years....There has been a dispute whether he was kept in County Antrim, or County Mayo...
He worked as a shepherd...afraid, and lonely he turned to his faith....And began dreaming about converting the Irish people to Christianity....
After six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped....According to his writings...A voice, which he believed to be God's, spoke to him in a dream...Telling him it was time to leave Ireland....The stories say he walked 200 miles from County Mayo, to the Irish coast....Once back in Britain, Patrick reports that he experienced a second revelation....An angel tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary...He begins his religious training...After being ordained he is sent back to Ireland to minister to the Christians living there, and to convert the Irish...This is funny because it has often been said that St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland...
Most Irish practiced a nature based pagan religion....Having known their culture and language...Patrick chose to incorporate traditional rituals into his lessons of Christianity, instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs...The Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire...So Patrick used bonfires to celebrate Easter...The sun was a powerful Irish symbol...So he superimposed the sun onto the Christian cross...Creating what is now known as the Celtic Cross..
The Irish culture has always had a rich tradition of oral legend and myth....It is no surprise that the tales of St. Patrick, and his life have been exaggerated...For me...Someone who has long questioned his faith...When I celebrate St. Patrick's...It's not so much about him...It's about family, and our heritage...And about those who struggled...Those who fought...And those who died...Many of them simply because they were Irish...
Later, The Beeze.
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