Saint Patrick, the Pagans: his day and the symbolism surrounding them.

                                

St. Patrick is enjoyed as the central icon in many stories and legends in the Irish Oral Tradition, starting with St. Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland,  evolving as the Irish icon of Christianity, and to some, synonymous with everything Irish.

One of these Irish Oral Traditions (dating to approximately 1726) tells of St. Patrick using the three-leafed Shamrock, common in Ireland, to teach the pagans of Ireland about the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, rendering the Shamrock as the premier symbol of St. Patrick's Day, held on  March 17th, believed to be the day of his death and also known as "The Feast of St. Patrick".

The Shamrock was also sacred to the pagans, with it's green color representing rebirth, and the three leaves representing their sacred Goddesses:  Brigid, E'riu and the Morrigan.


The "Cross Patte'e", known by the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick as "Saint Patrick's Cross" is depicted with four arms of the same length and narrowing at the center.  St. Patrick was the founding Bishop of the Church of Ireland, and is often depicted with this cross on his robes and bishop's mitre.  Pre-Christian renderings of this cross are often drawn with Celtic knots, triskele, and Trinity knots (another symbol of the pagans' sacred Goddesses) representing the eternal life of the soul.

                                        visit:

www.earthtraditions.com

for all of your Irish/Celtic/St. Patrick's Day needs!