Or maybe it is even a wonderful day of stress relief for you and your friends to travel from bar to bar downtown, buying pitchers of beer dyed in the spirit of the shamrock. You gulp down each glass saying to yourself, It's Saint Patrick's Day, let us celebrate it the way the Irish intended!?
Well, you just happen to be mistaken. It's not about the green, the leprechauns, the pinching or even the booze. The holiday, in its basest form, has nothing to do with Irish pride at all. In fact, the real Saint Patrick wasn't even from Ireland. He is thought to be born in Wales, across the Irish channel. The holiday is meant to celebrate the saint's works in and around Ireland, converting Pagans to Christianity and teaching forgiveness and humility!
So who was Saint Patrick? He was a Pagan himself. His small hometown on the coast of Wales was invaded sometime when he was a boy.
Maewyn, which is his real name, was sold into slavery and shipped to Ireland at the age of 16. Six years later he escaped, seeking refuge at a monastery in Gaul. There, Maewyn changed his name to Patrick and studied Catholicism. This is only one version of Saint Patrick's history however. Several other versions place him as being born closer to London or even in parts of Scotland.
It is then said that, two years later, Patrick returned to Ireland. His only mission was to convert the non-believers of the country to Christianity. It turned out that he was so persuasive and affective that the Celts put him in jail on numerous occasions. However, each time, Patrick found a way to escape.
Thirty years after he began his mission, he retired and then died on March 17, AD 461. Patrick was made a saint for his devotion to the church and his success in Great Britain. From that day forward the day of his death was celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland and in the Catholic community as a day of remembrance and solemn worship.
But then what happened? Well through the years and the cultures, the religious holiday was transformed into a joyous celebration. This may be due to its proximity to spring, a symbol of fertility and life. Today it is traditionally celebrated almost as a mirror of Oktoberfest. Instead of celebrating the bountiful harvest of the summer and the coming of winter, Saint Patrick's Day rejoices in the end of winter and the coming of the fruitful sunny-season. Images of green have worked their way into the now-secular celebration, a symbol of spring, growth and the renewal of life with the changing of the seasons.
Even the shamrock once held a deep religious meaning. This three-leafed clover is an abundant weed throughout the fields of Ireland, Scotland and Britain. It is said to have been used by Saint Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity, a Christian belief that God is three entities in one. He showed that the three parts could exist separate while they were still connected at a central point. The shamrock was later incorporated into the Saint Patrick's Day tradition as a symbol of luck and good fortune.
So, while you dress in green and pinch those that are not- remember that this holiday has more spiritual meaning! I just had to share something that I learned a long time ago about this Holiday- I see it as a Celebration for Spring to come, but also reminds me that with the strength of the Lord behind you, you can do anything...! Hope you all enjoy your day-
Lilly Got to Wear her Pj's to school today- the theme for the day- so we found her only green pair of Pj's and put them on her...Amelia is sporting her pj's too...they are covered in hearts..but there is some green in them..so no pinching her cute little self... It memories like these I want to hold on to forever!
Original Article from http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/6610/st.-patricks-day-not-just-about-beer-and-pinching-people
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