Every year on March 17, the world is immersed in a green sea of shamrocks, Guinness, and wildly celebrating people. St. Patrick's Day is no longer just an Irish celebration—no, it's the perfect excuse to dress up in flashy outfits and pretend you're a native Irishman for an entire day.
But who was this mysterious St. Patrick? And why do we believe he chased away snakes? It's high time to examine the myths surrounding this legendary saint!
Who was St. Patrick? – The involuntary national hero
Before he became an Irish legend, Patrick was just an ordinary British boy—yes, you read that right: Ireland's patron saint wasn't Irish at all! Born in Britain around 385, his life took an unexpected turn when, as a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates (!) and taken to Ireland. There, he was forced to herd sheep as a slave—a rather humble start for someone who would later inspire a worldwide celebration.
After six years, he managed to escape. But instead of leaving Ireland forever and living a quiet life in England, Patrick had a divine vision: He was to return to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. A bold decision—after all, it wasn't exactly the friendliest place for Christian missionaries. But Patrick had a secret weapon: a host of legends attributing superhuman powers to him.
The legends of St. Patrick – truth or hallucination?
1. The thing with the snakes
One of the most famous stories about St. Patrick is that he banished all the snakes from Ireland. He supposedly simply chased them into the sea—an epic move considering he did it in the 5th century without pesticides or modern technology.
Sounds impressive, doesn't it? Too bad there were never any snakes in Ireland anyway. The island simply wasn't the ideal climate for reptiles. Historians believe the story is more symbolic: The "snakes" probably represent the pagan religions that Patrick eradicated with his missionary zeal.
Nevertheless, the legend persists – after all, the idea of a sacred snake repeller is much more exciting than dry geological facts.
2. The Cloverleaf and the Trinity
When it comes to St. Patrick's Day, the famous shamrock is a must. Legend has it that Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the Christian Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the Irish.
Did that really happen? It's hard to say. What is certain is that the shamrock played an important role in Celtic mythology long before Patrick. The ancient Irish considered it a lucky symbol with magical properties. So, perhaps Patrick simply cleverly used an existing symbol for his mission.
Fun fact: A four-leaf clover has absolutely nothing to do with St. Patrick—that's a completely different lucky symbol. So, anyone frantically searching for a four-leaf clover on St. Patrick's Day hasn't done their homework.
3. St. Patrick and the Leprechauns – Or why we celebrate mini-men in green suits
One of the strangest associations with St. Patrick's Day is that of the leprechaun . Small, bearded men in green suits guarding grim grins and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow—but what do they have to do with St. Patrick?
In short: nothing.
Leprechauns originate from Irish folklore and were originally not friendly party gnomes, but rather tricky, often mischievous fairies. They loved playing pranks on humans and were considered masters of deception. Eventually, the legends merged, and the leprechauns became an integral part of St. Patrick's Day symbolism—probably because a bit of Irish magic and mayhem simply fits the celebration.
By the way: If you ever catch a leprechaun, you'll force him to give you his pot of gold. But be careful—the little guys are cunning and will do anything to fool you.
4. The mysterious “St. Patrick’s Purgatory”
This is where things get really dark: A lesser-known legend tells of St. Patrick discovering a cave that led directly into Purgatory's fire. According to the story, God showed him this place to prove to him that heaven and hell are real.
This cave, known as St. Patrick's Purgatory , actually exists—at least as a pilgrimage site on an island in Lough Derg, Ireland. For centuries, believers have made pilgrimages there, fortifying and praying for days in complete silence. It's also a more hardcore version of St. Patrick's Day, if you're looking for an alternative to the pub crawl.
Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day so big?
Well, originally, March 17 was simply the anniversary of St. Patrick's death and began as a religious holiday. But over the centuries, it evolved into a global spectacle—largely thanks to Irish immigrants in the US who thought, "Let's celebrate our culture—and do it in style!"
The result? A celebration that combines Irish tradition, American party spirit, and a generous portion of Guinness.
Conclusion: Myths, magic and lots of fun
St. Patrick's Day is much more than just an opportunity to dress in green and get drunk (although that's definitely a popular part of it). The legends surrounding St. Patrick are a blend of historical fact, Celtic mythology, and good old Irish storytelling—and that's precisely what makes the day so fascinating.
So whether you believe in snake-chasing saints, shamrock-throwing missionaries, or tricky leprechauns, there's only one rule on March 17: party like you're Irish!