St. Patrick, the Shamrock and the Legend.

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

March 17th, a religious holiday and possibly the only national holiday recognised outside its native land of Ireland, where communities and cities globally celebrate St. Patrick's day, with parades, street entertainment and the wearing of the shamrock.

History informs us that Patrick, born in Wales, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. After escaping to the Continent Patrick was eventually ordained Deacon, Priest and finally Bishop. Patrick (fluent in Irish ) was ordered by Pope Celestine to return to Ireland to preach the Gospel. Though St. Patrick wasn't the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it was he who encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rights, converting the warrior chiefs and princes, baptising them and their subjects in the holy wells that still bear that name. St. Patrick, a well travelled man, after whom innumerable places are named in Celtic countries, in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and Cornwall.

In his preaching, St. Patrick is said to have illustrated the existence of the Three in One, the Doctrine of the Trinity, in plucking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his congregation. The shamrock therefore symbolising the cross and blessed Trinity.

Legend informs us that Patrick standing upon a hill banished the snakes from Ireland and into the sea using a wooden staff. Driving the serpents from our Irish shores forever. During these pagan times, serpent symbols were common to pagan religions and possibly even worshipped. Therefore the introduction of Christianity to Ireland put an end to pagan practices, driving the serpents into the sea.

According to legend, St. Patrick is thought to have died in 493 A.D. and buried in Down Patrick, Co. Down in the same grave as St. Bridget and St. Columba. Other legend has it, that St. Patrick is buried in Glastonbury. To this day, The Chapel of St. Patrick exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey.

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