A Nod to St. Patrick
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday to honor the patron saint of Ireland, and an occasion when everyone can feel a bit Irish.
The Irish culture has a very rich history, a great deal of which has been handed down through storytelling. The Irish developed a unique way to remember and share their stories by turning them into long lyric poems.
Similar to the traditions of bards or fili, the seanachie, traditional Irish storytellers, were skilled at telling tales, especially those about history, family tradition, and legend. Through lyric poem the seanachie have been able to preserve much of the Irish culture.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here are a few fun facts about the patron saint himself:
He is the subject of many old Irish tales and legends.
It is said that St. Patrick used a shamrock, which was sacred to the Druids to whom he was speaking, to illustrate the holy trinity.
Another popular tale claims that St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes using only a wooden staff to drive them into the sea. Truth be told, this story is said to be a representation of how St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland.