Top o’ the mornin’ to you!
If you’re in the midst of a sea of green today look no further than the fact that it is Saint Patrick’s Day! From parades to shamrocks to getting pinched, you can be sure that the day will be full of food and fun activities for every age.
If you’re like me, however, you may wonder sometimes just where did all these traditions come from? And just how do they fit into a Christ-centered life? While not every tradition may fit perfectly, and not every tradition needs to be observed, I do believe that Scripture can be applied to just about everything this day represents.
Here are seven of the most popular traditions for St. Patrick’s Day, each represented in Scripture with a verse, and a little history on the side. Enjoy!
1) THE MAN
The man who started it all. Yes, Patrick was a real man, and his real name was Maewyn Succat. He was not Irish, but Roman, born in Britain to wealthy parents. Around the age of 16 he was kidnapped by a group of Irish raiders from his family estate, taken back to Ireland where he was forced to work as a shepherd. It was during this time that he found God.
After six years had passed God spoke to him in a dream and he escaped to Britain, then France, where he began his religious studies. After 15 years he became a priest, changed his name to Patricius (Patrick), and through another vision God directed him to return to Ireland to spread the gospel. He was the first evangelist in Ireland, and his life was spent in God’s service to the very people who enslaved him. He died in 460 or 461 A.D. in Saul, County Down, Ireland on March 17.
A point of interest…Maewyn, or Patrick as he became known as, was never canonized by the Catholic Church, and is a saint in name only.
Scripture: Mark 16:15 (GNT) “He (Jesus) said to them, “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.”
2) The Shamrock
To the ancient Celts, the shamrock symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 17th Century it was a symbol of Irish nationalism, worn by patriotic Irish in a form of rebellion against the English rulers of that time, and is a registered trademark of the Government of Ireland today.
According to legend it is believed that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity-God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit to the Irish people while preaching the gospel. Since the Irish had multiple three-deity gods, it was the perfect God inspired tool to reach them.
A point of interest…Traditionally, every year, the Irish Prime Minister presents the United States President with a crystal bowl of shamrocks. It began in 1952, when Ireland’s ambassador, John Hearne, sent a small box of shamrock’s to then President Harry Truman.
Scripture: Matthew 28:19 (NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
3) The Snakes
Sorry to disappoint, but there were no snakes. Legend says that Saint Patrick banished all the snakes in Ireland, however, there are no snakes native to the country. The only native land reptile found there is a lizard, and five turtle species off the coast.
A point of interest…Most authorities agree that ‘snakes’ referenced the Druids and Pagans in Ireland, since they were considered evil. Saint Patrick, by converting the Irish to Christianity, drove the demons out of the country and established God’s church.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:12 (CEV) “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.”
4) The Color Green
Most people don’t know this, but prior to 1783 and the establishment of the Order of St. Patrick, the color most associated with Saint Patrick was the color blue. When the Irish people adopted the shamrock as a symbol the color green went with it.
A point of interest…In 1798, during the Irish rebellion, Irish soldiers wore green uniforms to make an impact for their cause. To this day green is the color of choice for all Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-11 (CEB) “Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil.”
5) The Leprechaun
These mischievous little imps weren’t associated with the holiday until after 1959 in America. Why? Because Disney put out a film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, which pushed the idea of a friendly, luck-giving trickster into the day’s celebrations. However, in Irish lore, they were not friendly, but mean-spirited imps who liked to play tricks. Legend has it that if you catch one he will give you three wishes to regain his freedom.
A point of interest…Have you ever wondered just why you get pinched for not wearing green? Blame it on the Leprechaun. Apparently the color green renders the person wearing it invisible. For those poor hapless folks who do not wear green, the Leprechaun can see you and will give you a pinch to let you know that he can.
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (GW) “But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you against the evil one.”
6) The Lucky Pot of Gold
As previously mentioned, Leprechauns are mischievous little imps who love to play pranks on unsuspecting people, but apparently they are also hoarders of money and wealth. According to Irish folklore they hide their booty, gold coins, in pots located at the very end of a rainbow. If you are lucky enough to find one sitting amongst his gold, and can catch him, legend states that he will give you the gold for his freedom.
A point of interest…Luck, or chance, is emphasized on Saint Patrick’s Day. Of course, as a Christian, we know that our future has nothing to do with luck, but with being directed, and blessed, by God.
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21 (TLB) “Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves. If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too.”
7) The Green Beer
Green beer is an American invention, created by an Irish-American in the early 1900’s in New York for a St. Patrick’s Day party. He used a dye called ‘wash-blue’ to turn the beverage green, however, it was actually poison, an iron powder solution used to whiten laundry! Thankfully, today’s green beer is achieved by adding a few drops of green food coloring.
A point of interest…Saint Patrick’s Day was considered a religious holiday for most of the 20th Century, and therefore was a dry holiday, as all of the nation’s pubs were closed on March 17. When it was converted to a national holiday in 1970 the ban on drinking was lifted.
Scripture: John 4:13-14 (ERV) “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life.”
Please Note: All of the information given in this post was found by doing a Google search. If you would like to discover more information about Saint Patrick’s Day, please conduct your own search…and be sure to share anything you’ve learned in the comments!