Four Secrets About St. Patrick They Don't Want You To Know About
For When You Are Five Beers Deep
Here are four intriguing facts about St. Patrick:
🐍 Ireland Didn't Have Snakes
The legend of St. Patrick driving snakes from Ireland is likely metaphorical. Post-glacial Ireland never had native snakes due to its geographic isolation after the Ice Age. Scholars suggest the "snakes" symbolized pagan beliefs or Druidic practices, reflecting the cultural shift toward Christianity.
🇬🇧 Patrick Wasn't Irish!!
Patrick was not Irish—he was born in Roman Britain (circa 386 CE) and enslaved by Irish raiders at 16. After escaping, he returned to Ireland years later as a missionary. His outsider status and personal history challenge the myth of his intrinsic connection to Irish identity.
🔵 Blue, Not Green, Was His Original Color
Early artistic depictions and medieval texts associated Patrick with blue, not green. The shift to green emerged in the 18th century, tied to Irish nationalism and the shamrock’s use as a revolutionary symbol. This highlights how cultural symbols evolve over time.
☘️ The Three Leaf Clover Is A Pagan Symbol
Patrick’s methods often blended existing pagan traditions with Christian teachings. For example, he used the shamrock—a sacred triple symbol in Celtic lore—to explain the Trinity, easing pagan conversion through cultural familiarity.
St. Patrick, the man, the myth, the legend!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Sláinte!