St. Patrick is known as a symbol of Ireland, particularly around every March. One of the reasons he's so famous is because he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and was even credited with a miracle for this. Most pagans are familiar with the snake as a pagan symbol and many attribute the "snakes" to be an actual reference to pagans, specifically the Druids, but whether or not it was a symbol of the pre-Christian Irish pagans is unclear.There is much debate as to whether or not "snakes" refers to actual pagans or not. Some say that it must be correct because there has never been snakes in Ireland. Others say that it is a myth that either Christians or pagans themselves have created. Regardless of who created the myth of the "driving out the snakes," it has been used to perpetuate the idea that pagans have been victimized throughout history by Christians and St. Patrick in particular. The idea is actually likely nothing more than propaganda.The main reason the holiday St. Patrick's Day is celebrated is because Saint Patrick is credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland. Some pagans accuse him of eradicating an entire pagan culture. This credit, on both counts, is undeserved and a myth. While the idea that St. Patrick committed a "pagan genocide" and that he Christianized all of Ireland entirely a myth, the fact that he felt it was his mission to convert pagans to Christianity is not. This is surprising considering he himself was pagan himself until the age of 16.St. Patrick was born in Scotaland or Wales around AD 385. His name was actually Maewyn Succat and identified himself as a pagan until the age of 16. It wasn't until he was kidnapped by Irish marauders and held as a slave for six years that he turned to the Christianity and renamed himself Patrick. After escaping from slavery he went to Gaul and studied in the monastery for 12 years. It was during this time it is said that he came to believe that he must convert pagans to Christianity. He became the second Bishop of Ireland, established monasteries, and successfully converted pagans to Christianity before dying on March 17 in AD 461, which is the day St. Patrick's Day is celebrated. Although some sources say the year of his birth and date of his death are not actually known.Some sources also say that St. Patrick was arrested by the Druids several times. This is likely inaccurate and is more propaganda for supporting the myth of his so called pagan genocide. While it is true that he was arrested, one source atributed this to converting royalty and excommunicating soldiers. This implies that he was arrested because of political reasons, not because he was converting Druids. The sources that do attribute his arrests to the Druids simply say the reason was because they were "irritated" or "angered." This hardly makes it credible as any sort of religious genocide.Is it also said that St. Patrick challenged the Druids at Tara. On the evening before Easter, 433 AD, St. Patrick is said to have kindled a fire on Slane Hill close to Tara in Co. Meath. The story goes that it was equivalent to declaring war on the Druids, their pagan beliefs, and war against the King of Ireland. For at Beltane, the Druids lit a great bonfire with the understanding that no other fire should be lit in the vicinity. A group of King Laoghaire's warriors arrived on the scene and took St. Patrick and his small band into custody. He was taken to Tara, where he was to answer for his crime. St. Patrick was forced to face the Druids, and then he was placed in front of King Laoghaire to answer for his alleged crimes. St. Patrick charmed and talked his way into gaining pardon for him and his group. Some say he did this with a shamrock, which he used to explain the Holy Trinity to the King. The Irish King was so impressed that he gave St. Patrick freedom to preach Christianity across all of Ireland, which ultimately led to Ireland's conversion to Christianity.Did this really happen? In all likelihood, it did not and was fabricated after his death. It is simply part of the myth of St. Patrick. Nor did St. Patrick truly bring Christianity to Ireland. The religion of Christianity already existed before his arrival. He was after all the second bishop of Ireland. The first was St. Palladius who was appointed a full two years before St. Patrick. St. Patrick wasn't appointed until Palladius was transferred to Scotland. Yet somehow St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland!Regardless, I can't help but grin at the fact that St. Patrick's Day has become a day of sinning, drinking, and general debauchery when it had such serious Christian beginnings. It's ironic considering St. Patrick was probably using Christianity to cure the pagan Irish of such "sinful" behavior in the first place. Okay, maybe not. But it's funny to think so.Sources about.com pagancentric.orgWikipediaNationalzoo.comPatheos.comwilstar.comangelharrisIrish Cultural SocietyMany Pagans and Wiccans quietly protest St. Patrick by wearing a serpent pin or shirt on St. Patrick's Day. Or you can make this great snake wreath I found at about.com.You'll need the following supplies:oA grapevine hoop or other wreath form (available at craft stores)oSpring greenery, such as ivyoA bag of rubber snakesoA hot glue gunoFlorist's wireoSome ribbonStart by decorating the grapevine wreath with your greenery. Don't use too much, because you'll want to leave room for the snakes. Next, arrange the snakes around the wreath, and hot glue them so they don't fall off. Depending on the size of your wreath -- and your snakes -- anywhere from six to a dozen should be fine.As a finishing touch, tie a length of ribbon into a bow and fix it in place with the florist's wire. Use an additional loop of wire at the top to hang the wreath up.
