ST. PATRICKS DAY: HISTORY, TRADITIONS, FACTS AND CELEBRATION

Do you like legends? Or Do you like Guinness? Well, today I have one very nice that maybe it could like you and if you want, you can go for one Guinness.

Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland, known as the “Apostle of Ireland.”

This legend/ history says that his real name was Maewyn Succat, when he was about sixteen, was captured by Irish pirates and taken as a slave to Ireland to work as a shepherd for six years. One night he had a dream (at least is what he said), about the “, want to break free”... Oh, I’m sorry I’m just losing my mind, but I’ll keep writing about St. Patrick. Well, legend said that he had a dream about he will take a ship and be free. He feel so motivated to escape and walk for a long time until he finds a pagan ship, people helped him, and he could go to the house.

To give you an extensive explanation, once back at his home, when he was about twenty, Patrick continued studying Christianity and becoming a missionary and ended up becoming a preacher in Ireland. At that time, the island was divided into numerous clans under the supreme authority of the Druids. He got adapted to the social conditions of the place, forming a local clergy and several Christian communities, respecting the traditions and customs of the people.

St. Patricks drove Snakes out of Ireland

After this History… Yes, because the “title” talks about History, and also is something that you can share with your friends, family, or maybe a date. The legend of legends is here; people say that one of the most crucial actions that he did is that… St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland. A lot of people say that maybe it’s craziness because there are no snakes in Ireland, well, that is the reason.

Sharing a little bit of history again, when he was a missionary in Ireland get arrested for the pagan King, and he asked him about God’s power in his hands. St. Patrick took a shamrock and said: “Just as there are three leaves on this stem, there are three people in one God.” (also this is one of the reasons because shamrocks are very important in Ireland). All these actions make those people feel confidence in him. Patrick was allowed to preach the new faith throughout Ireland.

He used to lived in absolute poverty and rejected all kinds of richness, so all the money he got went to the poorest and to evangelization. And talking again about the snakes, well, the Pagan symbol is of a snake, so when he just spread a Christian message, chased off the snakes out of Ireland. Nowadays, the main religion in the Territory is Christianity/ Catholic, thank St. Patrick.

For Mexicans, maybe a significant celebration is the Day of Death, not because it’s a happy celebration or something like that. Still, I really think that is a very warm day, yes… Warm, everyone spends the day with family and friends, also maybe it’s a day where the traditions are more energetic, and you can notice it in the colors, smells, energy of the place… Perhaps it’s a real moment when the culture is alive and a real proud of our nationality. At least is what I felt when I was talking with Roz Dooley. This Irish girl was spending her holiday here in San José del Cabo, she talked to me about Irish celebration and what it’s so essential for the community.

Ireland is a traditional country, so during the lent, the community takes time for reflection, abstinence in commemoration of their religion. But in St. Patrick’s day, it is the only day that the people can have fun (this reminds me Cyndi Lauper’s song, you can imagine me dancing in my chair for a while I’m writing).

Ireland is completely green!

One of the traditions that Roz shared with us is that “the mother of every house will grow shamrocks and everyone will wear on their clothes for the day. It’s traditionally wearing green because green is the national color”. That is because Shamrock is like the symbol of Christianity in Ireland, and also, the whole country is full of green fields and vegetation… So, well, Ireland is green.

Roz told me that there are a lot of visitors from different countries, they want to see the parade and enjoy the happiness that you can feel there. Now my favorite part of this blog... The typical food or snack in this celebration, is bacon, cabbage, and potatoes; also, Irish stew made with Guinness and for the kids, a lot of candies.

In Mexico and in different places, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day too; I just remembered all my friends wearing green clothes with shamrocks; getting fun, and drinking a lot of beer at local Pubs. So, if you are Irish, let me kiss you because it is your day, but if you want to celebrate, here in Royal Solaris, we have a lot of options for you.