Maewyn Succat, Patrick’s given Roman name, was born to a wealthy family in the Roman Empire. The exact location of his birthplace, Bannavem Taburniae, is unknown, but it is believed to be “near the Western sea”, as described in his autobiography, “The Confessio”. Maewyn’s father was a Christian deacon and minor Roman official, his grandfather was a priest, and his sister is Saint Darerca of Ireland. It is undoubtedly that Patrick was raised in a Christian household, although there are differing accounts of his conversion to Christianity. Some sources suggest that he converted from paganism while he was a slave in Ireland, while a more likely scenario says that Maewyn was exposed to Christianity throughout his early childhood.

When he was 16 years old, his village was raided by a band of Irish marauders and Maewyn was taken captive. During this time, the Roman Empire began to lose its power over its ever-expanding empire and such raids were becoming more common. Young boys like Maewyn were often taken to herd sheep and cattle, while girls were taken to work as servants, cooking and cleaning for the chieftains who owned them. Maewyn was taken to County Antrim in the north of Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd for a local chieftain on the slopes of Mount Slemish.

Living in isolation, deprived of food, and lacking proper clothing, Maewyn’s only company was his flock and his ever-growing faith in God. According to his writings in “The Confessio”, he prayed as many as 100 times a day and 100 times at night. Six years into his enslavement, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said; “You have fasted well. Very soon you will return to your native country”. The angel instructed him to find a ship bound for the European continent, and Maewyn journeyed on foot for 200 miles through peat bogs and forests to reach a port. Despite being an escaped slave, he was able to convince the crew of a cargo ship to allow him passage.

Upon arriving at the mainland, the ship and its crew became lost for several weeks in a land devoid of food. The crew grew skeptical of Maewyn’s faith and began to chastise him for his piety. They questioned why his God was not helping them in their dire state of hunger. To which Maewyn replied; “Turn in faith with all your hearts to the Lord my God, because nothing is impossible for Him”. Immediately after, a stampede of pigs appeared, providing ample food for the crew. This miraculous event led to Maewyn’s first converts.

Maewyn eventually returned home to his parents, but his religious visions did not stop. He heard a voice calling him; “We beg you, holy boy, to come and walk again among us”. He understood this to mean he was to return to Ireland to serve the people. In 418 AD, he was ordained as a Deacon and in 432 AD, he was consecrated as a Bishop and given the name Patricius or Naomh Pádraig in Gaelic.

With the knowledge of Ireland’s language and customs, his religious training, and his life experiences, Patricius was uniquely suited to convert and baptize the island’s Druid priests, chieftains, and aristocrats. He successfully converted thousands of individuals before his death on March 17, 461.

Since St. Patrick is Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a holy day of obligation for Christians in Ireland, who are expected to attend Church services. Historically, Irish Christians would attend church services and then go about their day. The priests were eager to remind them not to drink alcohol on such a sacred day. St. Patrick was relatively unknown outside of Ireland until March 17, 1737, when a group of over two dozen Presbyterians who had emigrated from Northern Ireland gathered to celebrate St. Patrick and formed the Charitable Irish Society to assist distressed Irishmen in America. The Charitable Irish Society still holds an annual dinner on St. Patrick’s Day to this day.

After that first charitable celebration, St. Patrick’s day remained relatively obscure and continued to simply be a Holy Day of Obligation. Until the Revolutionary War and Brother General George Washington needed to boost his troops’ spirits.

Brother General George Washington recognized the necessity of boosting morale among the Continental Army during the harsh winter. Brother Washington knowing the Irish heritage among many of his soldiers wanted to show solidarity with the “brave and generous” Irish people who were fighting for their own independence against the English, declared St. Patrick’s Day a holiday for his troops. This was the first day off they had in over a year, and it was a much-needed boost for morale. Although today’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are often festive and lively, Washington emphasized that he expected his troops to celebrate in a disciplined manner and warned that “the celebration of the day will not be attended with the least rioting or disorder.” Although the celebration may not have involved abundant food and drink, the troops did enjoy a hogshead of rum provided by their commander.

For those who are curious, a “hogshead” is about 63 US gallons. Let’s hope those troops had plenty.

Why Is St. Patrick’s Day Known For Festive Drinking?

St. Patrick’s Day is known for its festivities and of course, a little bit of drinking. But where did this association come from? Was St. Patrick himself a fan of a good pint? Probably but not quite the reason. The reason for this connection can be traced back to the mid-1800s, during the devastating potato famine in Ireland. In the face of tragedy, over a million people died and another million emigrated to countries like the US, Canada, Britain, Australia, and elsewhere around the world. Irish immigrants continued to emigrate to the United States for decades after the failure of Ireland’s potato crop in 1845. Leaving their homes was not easy but the promise of a better life and simply being able to sustain a living encouraged the Irish to think of better days to come in a new land.

As we know, early America was not the friendliest of places. Roads paved with gold, religious freedom, and a just and fair government were often replaced with poverty, prejudice, and corruption. The Irish felt firsthand how discrimination in young America impacted their lives. In a political response to the anti-immigrant sentiment from the nativist “Know-Nothings”, Irish Immigrants would take to the streets every St. Patrick’s Day to show their strength in numbers. They were not only making a political statement, but they were also celebrating their Irish heritage.

Their newfound “success” helped fuel the celebrations for St. Patrick and for simply being alive. The lamb and pork they used to eat in Ireland were now far too expensive, but the local Jewish corned beef proved a cheaper yet delicious substitute. Cheap cabbage, vegetables, and home-baked soda bread completed the meal that reminded them of home. The beer may or may not have been the black gold they had in Dublin, but it was still a means to celebrate such a Saintly man! With Lenten obligations lifted for St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish could properly raise a pint or six to Old Naomh Pádraig! Since America was known as “The Great Melting Pot” Irish Americans found themselves celebrating with the Polish, Italians, and all others, especially Catholics who continued to attend church services before the shenanigans of the day began.

As the 19th Century continued, St. Patrick’s Day was taking the world by storm with grand and festive celebrations held in cities of every country in the world in which the Irish settled. Meanwhile, in Ireland, it was just another dull (probably rainy) day – even the Guinness Brewery was closed. Fortunately, as the 20th Century carried on, things were starting to change! In 1961, the only place to legally enjoy a drink on St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin was the Royal Dublin Dog Show, which attracted record-setting “dog lovers” each year. Finally, in 1970, the Irish government lifted the ban on pub openings on St. Patrick’s Day, giving the country the opportunity to join in on the celebrations. And, in 1996, the multi-day St. Patrick’s Day Festival was launched in Dublin, adding even more excitement to the festivities. Today the celebration in honor of St. Paddy (NEVER St. Patty!) continues to grow. Visiting Dublin for St. Paddy’s Day is like a visit to New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

The tradition of celebrating on St. Patrick’s Day is not about drinking but a celebration of Irish pride and a time to come together with friends and family whether you are Irish or not and celebrate good fortune.