Many People have heard of St. Patrick’s day, and many have even celebrated it. But what is it and who is St. Patrick?
Saint Patrick was one of Christianity’s most widely known figures, and though he has a holiday named after him, his life remains a mystery to most.
According to www.history.com, at the age of 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by Irish raiders and transported to Ireland. After 6 years in captivity, he believed he heard the voice of God in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
Patrick walked nearly 200 miles and escaped to Britain where he became a Priest. Years later, he returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christians.
This is commonly referred to, “driving out all the snakes of Ireland.”
A myth amongst people today is that St. Patrick literally drove out the snakes from Ireland. The common misconception being that, the snakes were actually the non believers of Christ.
To make Christianity mesh in the Irish community, St. Patrick combined the sun; a powerful symbol for the Irish, and the cross. Known today as the Celtic Cross. He also celebrated Christian holidays with bonfires, for the Irish had honored their Gods with fire.
The festivities of St. Patrick’s Day are the way the Irish celebrated. The holiday falls on the season of lent. (A prohibition time against the consumption of meats.)
The people would dance, drink, feast, and take to the streets waving the Irish flag in floods of green.
The color green was originally associated with the Catholics of Ireland and has always been the designated color of the Irish flag, but was fully adopted by The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in their parades. But the actual first parade was in the United States in 1762.
Irish soldiers serving in the American army marched through New York City on March 17, 1762, waving Irish flags, and pinning shamrocks on their clothes.
These parades became tradition. Over the next 35 years, Irish groups such as, The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Hibernian Society would hold annual parades. www.history.com says, “In 1848, several Irish Aid societies unified their parades. Today, it’s the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the U.S. today.”
One last mystery to many, is the shamrock. Many think it symbolizes, “The luck of the Irish,” but it was actually what St. Patrick used to describe the Holy Trinity, A.K.A., The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The three leaves of the native Irish clover symbolize this.
So St. Patrick’s Day in all actuality is a commemoration to the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, not just a day to wear green and join a pub crawl.
Activities are available for families and minors in downtown Spokane. March 17, 12 pm-3 pm there will be the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade hosted by, The
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Visit http://downtownspokane.org/event/st-patrick s-day-parade/ for more information.
The Irish Drinking Team is a local group of men and women that put on an annual St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl starting at 7 am and lasting all day. Simply buy a jersey at theirishdrinkingteam.com and that gets you in.
St Patrick’s Day Activities
❖ St. Paddy’s Day Parade, Downtown Spokane, March 17, 12pm-3pm.
❖ 13th Annual Irish Drinking Team Pub Crawl. March 17.
(theirishdrinkingteam.com)
Irish Watering Holes
❖ O’Doherty’s Irish Grille
❖ Jack and Dan’s
❖ Lucky’s Bar
❖ Conley’s Place Restaurant