St. Patrick is more than an excuse to drink beer.

[Mia62]

More than a thousand years ago, a young boy called Patrick lived far away over the sea in Britain.

When he was 16, he was captured by pirates. He was taken over the sea to Ireland where he was sold as a slave.

For six years he worked for an Irish chieftan as a shephard.

While he was a slave, Patrick often prayed to God.

At last he escaped from Ireland and made his way back to his family in Britain.

After Patrick became a priest, he dreamt that the people of Ireland were calling him back.

For the rest of his life, Patrick stayed in Ireland and built many churches.

He also kept a diary of his travels in Ireland, which we can read today.

When Patrick died he was buried in Ireland. Many people believe that his grave is in a place called Downpatric.

As the legend goes...Patrick is said to have rid Ireland of snakes and demons by praying to God and sacrificing himself as martyr for his faith.

 

[sunstruck]

He also hunted down and slaughtered any practitioners of Irelands old religions that he could locate ie serpants.

Drink up!

 

[Mia62]

Is that fact or myth? The serpents that he rid Ireland of were of the long skinny snakey kind.

There is no mention of his killing anyone in any of the literature, Catholic or not.

 

[Purrde Flower]

I like Mia's version much much better. Keeps the mood of the day light and less Satanic.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. was celebrated for Political reasons that no longer exist. We should dump it along with Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, and "President's Day" (which doesn't actually exist and should be referred to again as Washington's Birthday).

 

[Mia62]

What About The Snakes?
It is a folk tale that Patrick drove the snakes off the “Emerald Isle.” Snakes being commonly associated with Satan, sin and evil since the Garden of Eden, this tale may have arisen as a metaphor of his single-handed effort to drive the idol-worshiping Druid cult out of Ireland.

I don't believe that the word "drive" is equivalent to "murder" in any language.

 

[Lancecastor]

More Catholic savagery made fuzzy by yet another feeble reason to drink.

Least productive people on earth, the Roman Catholics.

Except for reproducing; they're quite skilled at that.

 

[Mia62]

More Catholic savagery made fuzzy by yet another feeble reason to drink.

Least productive people on earth, the Roman Catholics.

Except for reproducing; they're quite skilled at that.

I love you. Or do I? ;-)

 

[plasticman33]

St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. was celebrated for Political reasons that no longer exist. We should dump it along with Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, and "President's Day" (which doesn't actually exist and should be referred to again as Washington's Birthday).

The frightening thing is they're now considering making it an official US holiday!

(I wonder what "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers" think of that?)

 

[Lancecastor]

I love you. Or do I? ;-)

You have to wait three years to know; read your Homer.

And no, I don't mean Simpson.

 

[glamorilla]

St. Patrick's day is gay.

 

[Mia62]

You have to wait three years to know; read your Homer.

And no, I don't mean Simpson.

Thank god...Homer Simpson sucks.

Three years, eh? One down...two to go.

 

[breakwall]

I don't believe that the word "drive" is equivalent to "murder" in any language.

There isn't any documented proof that St Patrick drove (or murdered) any Pagans. However the idea arises from a study done back in the fifties (I cant find the link, but if i do i will edit this post) that concluded that there have never been any snakes in Ireland.
So, if there were no snakes, what were the serpents that were driven out by St. Patrick? The common answer was Pagans often associated with Satan.

But then, St Patrick banished a dragon to a lake as well. If you dont buy the dragon story, why buy the snake story?

So, my advise...forget trying to find a 'deeper meaning' in St Patrick's Day, instead, go hoist a green beer and watch Glam march in the parade.

 

[J.B.]

St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. was celebrated for Political reasons that no longer exist. We should dump it along with Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, and "President's Day" (which doesn't actually exist and should be referred to again as Washington's Birthday).

And Cinco de Mayo

 

[sunstruck]

Is that fact or myth? The serpents that he rid Ireland of were of the long skinny snakey kind.

There is no mention of his killing anyone in any of the literature, Catholic or not.

Umm...there was never any mass slaughter of scaley serpents in Ireland. There have never been snakes in Ireland. That would be the myth part.

To say that he, himself killed in the name of Christianity has never actually been proved. However, at the time he was wandering around Ireland converting the heathens (abolishing pagan rites in Tara for instance) soliders of the Roman church to which he pledged were killing those who would not convert. For every location Patrick "converted" there is also a story of blood and death.

The problem is all history in Ireland at this time was oral, so it's unreliable at best. This is also how the story of the snakes came to be. The only written history available is that of the Catholic Church. Not really an unbiased source. But the fact that the slaughter and St. Patrick's conversions went hand and hand is undeniable.

 

[J.B.]

STUPID POST!

(and I haven't even touched beer yet)

 

[sunstruck]

We should dump it along with Valentines Day, Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, and "President's Day" (

How do you "dump" a holiday?

 

[J.B.]

How do you "dump" a holiday?

It’s not you it’s me. I hope we can still be friends.

 

[Mia62]

For every location Patrick "converted" there is also a story of blood and death.

The problem is all history in Ireland at this time was oral, so it's unreliable at best.

You made my point exactly. The whole story...snakes/serpents/slaughter/mayhem....all myth.

The ONLY thing that can be verified through writings of the time is that he created churches.

 

[sunstruck]

It’s not you it’s me. I hope we can still be friends.

Ok see, that was funny.

Well, you guys can stay here and debate the validity of St. Patrick's Day all afternoon. My Irish husband is going to be home any minute and he's going to take my berry pink Irish ass to our favorite Irish Pub where we will be meeting several of my Irish relatives and not so Irish friends, to drink various Irish beers and whisky, eat large amounts of corn beef and cabbage (ok I skip the cabage, cuz yuck), sing hundreds of Irish folk songs (I've been humming The Crack was Ninety all mornin') until closing when we will have a taxi take our drunk, rosey pink Irish asses home to fuck like drunk Irish bunnies and pass out in our huge, hand crafted in Ireland bed.

Whack for the Daddy O' people.

 

[sunstruck]

The ONLY thing that can be verified through writings of the time is that he created churches.

The battles are also documented in that same time. If I'm back tomorrow I'll scan some history for you.

 

[J.B.]

Ok see, that was funny.

Well, you guys can stay here and debate the validity of St. Patrick's Day all afternoon. My Irish husband is going to be home any minute and he's going to take my berry pink Irish ass to our favorite Irish Pub where we will be meeting several of my Irish relatives and not so Irish friends, to drink various Irish beers and whisky, eat large amounts of corn beef and cabbage (ok I skip the cabage, cuz yuck), sing hundreds of Irish folk songs (I've been humming The Crack was Ninety all mornin') until closing when we will have a taxi take our drunk, rosey pink Irish asses home to fuck like drunk Irish bunnies and pass out in our huge, hand crafted in Ireland bed.

Whack for the Daddy O' people.

LMAO!
well have fun for me too 'cause I'm stuck working all day.