The story of Saint Patrick’s Day is filled with false information, myths and downright lies!
First, Saint Patrick’s original name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed it when he became a priest.
Second, it’s Mr. Patrick, thank you very much. He was never officially proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church. It was the public who gave him the saintly title.
Third, he’s not even Irish! He first arrived in emerald country as a 16-year-old teen kidnapped by Irish raiders and sold into slavery. He escaped, but later returned as a missionary in 432 AD.
Fourth, the whole banishing snakes from Ireland was actually a metaphor for the pagan Druids. There has never been snakes in Ireland!
Fifth, while the holiday is now celebrated with green beer and Jello shots, Patrick wore blue which was the official color of Ireland for centuries until green became a symbol of Irish nationalism in the late 1700s.
Sixth, those three-leaf shamrocks we see everywhere, are an object lesson Patrick used to explain the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Spirit—three in one.
Finally, number seven, for most of the 20th century, St. Patrick’s Day was a dry religious holiday in Ireland where pubs were legally required to close. The tradition of heavy drinking was strictly an Irish-American tradition.
So, basically the only truth of St. Patrick’s day is the name Patrick. He wrote, “My name is Patrick. I am a sinner. I most certainly believe it is the gift of God that I am what I am.” I doubt he would not have parades and drunken parties in his name.
Copyright 2026 James N. Watkins I am a sinner. I most certainly believe it is the gift of God that I am what I am.
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