FYI: Separating facts from myths associated with Saint Patrick's Day

March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day and considered a great day for the Irish. In America this occasion is big business with stores filled with hats, party favors, candy, napkins, plates, large shamrocks. beads and other items all in green. There are a lot of myths and folklore mixed in with the truths that are associated with the man for whom this date is observed. Lets take look at a few of them. He was born Maewyn Succat but changed his name to Patricius or Patrick which means father figure when he became a priest. He is known as the patron saint of Ireland but was actually born in Britain while it was under Roman rule. He was sent to Ireland as a missionary in later years and that is how the stories began.

There is one legend that says Saint Patrick stood on a hillside preaching and all the snakes left Ireland, but residents say the water in the area is too cold for snakes. Historians indicate that serpents were never even in that location at all. Some believe this story was confused with the children's tale of the Pied Piper who got rid of all the mice. Green is associated with this patron saint but the Knights in the Order of St. Patrick however, wore a color known as St. Patrick’s blue. It is believed that the color green came into play during the 18th century, when supporters of Irish independence used this color to represent their cause.

Saint Patrick, was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and eventually became a bishop in Ireland. He was born in 386 or 387 and his father, Calpurnius, was a decurion, ( a Roman Calvary officer) and also a deacon. Saint Patrick's grandfather Potitus was a priest from Bonaven Taberna. His grandfather was a priest during a time when there was no requirement for priests to remain unmarried and celebrate. It was not until 1917 that celibacy was put into effect because it was believed that married clergy would cause scandals.

The corned beef and cabbage that is eaten on March 17 is an American invention and has nothing to do with Ireland or Saint Patrick. Ironically there was a time when the Irish were scorned in America, yet the first Saint Patrick's Day parade was held in the United States. The shamrock, which is a three-leaf clover, has been associated with Ireland for centuries and prior tp Saint Patrick. The Celts called it a “seamroy” and it was considered a sacred plant that was a symbol of the arrival of spring.

Legend says that, St. Patrick used the 3 leaf clover plant as a visual guide when explaining the Holy Trinity, but this is not known or certain. There is also a belief that the Saint introduced Christianity to Ireland but there were Christians in the country long before the patron saint showed up. There is also another legend that says Saint Patrick prayed for some hungry sailors and a herd of swine miraculously appeared. There is also a misconception that the Irish drink lots of beer on March 17 and were the ones who created green beer. For a long time, most Irish Pubs were actually legally closed on March 17 in honor Saint Patrick.

Even when that law was taken off the books, and pubs were opened, the Irish did not indulge in drinking green beer because many were observing Lent which is 40 days of fasting prior to Easter Sunday. Green beer came from the Irish relatives who were living in America. Today, Americans are more observant of the holiday than other nations. There parades and bars serve green beer, while corn beef and cabbage ae eaten. You can send Saint Patrick's Day cards and some people dress like Leprechauns. Patrick's Day.