Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Here are a few facts you might not know about Ireland’s national holiday.
1. St. Patrick wasn’t Irish.
Historians still argue about his birthplace, which was most likely Wales (Cornwall and Scotland have also claimed him). He was born around 370 A.D. Most likely, his birth name was Maewyn, and he was probably the son of a Roman Briton named Calpurnius.
Maewyn was captured during a raid and sold to an Irish landowner as a slave. During his time in Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd, Maewyn began to have religious visions and dreams — including one in which showed him how to escape captivity.
2. It’s possible he wasn’t a slave.
he may have actually been a slaver himself, according to one Cambridge historian.
3. He didn’t actually drive any snakes out of Ireland.
Being an island, there weren’t any there. But he did drive symbolic snakes out: the serpent was a powerful Pagan symbol; getting rid of snakes from Ireland is more about the conversion of Celts to Christianity.
4. While people like to celebrate the day wearing green, Patrick’s own vestments were originally blue.
5. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Montserrat
Due to the Irish ancestry of many of the Caribbean island’s residents.
It’s seven things actually Niall. A little-discussed fact it that I was almost named Patrick. I was born around 10pm on the 16th of March. Two hours later, and it would have been a very different blog.
BeetleyPat.Wordpress.com
Any excuse for that great photo of CZJ is always welcome though!
Cheers mate. Pete.
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cheer, pete, and belated happy birthday
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Wow! This was really educational for me. Didn’t know about any of those and I’m super surprised by the Montserrat thing! I’m from a near by island and never knew. Thanks for sharing!
Ally ~
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cheers! which island are you in and is it warm there? 🙂
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I’m from Antigua and Barbuda but I’m abroad in university and It’s just starting to warm up here. The weather at home is mostly sunny and warm. Winter is horrible!
Ally ~
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These are some really interesting facts I had no idea whatsoever of. Thank you for this post! 🙂
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Really interesting post Niall, have a great day.
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cheers, man. likewise
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“Ceremonial First Punch”? – LOL WTF?
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“Next up: a woman sees St. Patrick in the vomit she just spewed on a police car.”
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HAHA! Gross. But so apt.
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