St. Patrick’s Day
Today is that glorious day when we remember St. Patrick and in turn honor our Irish brethren. For this special event we have changed the background color here at ITA to green. It’s also worth pausing for a moment to remember the patron saint of Ireland.
Originally born in Britain sometime in the 5th century, St. Patrick was captured at around age sixteen and taken to a Druid chief in Ireland. During his six years of captivity, Patrick’s faith strengthened so that when he returned to Britain at age 22 he decided to set his sights on eventually returning to bring the Gospel of Jesus to Ireland. This he did sometime between 432 or 462 at a turbulent time when Rome was withdrawing from Britain (and also a time when some say a “King Arthur” rose to power). Although Patrick was not the first Christian missionary to Ireland, he certainly had the biggest impact. According to legend Patrick banished snakes from Ireland, but some argue that Ireland never had snakes in the first place.
Many believe he died on March 17th, so that is why we celebrate his feast today. It is common, indeed required among some, that people wear green to commemorate this day. But I hasten to note that green is the color for Catholic Irish to wear. Protestant Irish, such as myself, should wear orange.
“Protestant Irish, such as myself, should wear orange.”
Not in Dublin or Boston.
but definitely in Indianapolis, where orange serves a dual purpose.
ILL - INI!
“Protestant Irish, such as myself, should wear orange.”
That’s not an official rule, but one that my grandfather long advocated. So it’s a joke, and I’m not sure you’ll find anyone else who’s heard of it. But traditions have to start somewhere!
I know of one school where grades 6 through 8 are already aware of and, in some cases, abiding by the “orange” rule.
As you continue your progress you can look forward to the wearin of the green.
If you’re Ulster Irish, your family may have originally come from the other Isle anyway.
The green on this page just looks hideous.
>That’s not an official rule, but one that my grandfather long
>advocated. So it’s a joke, and I’m not sure you’ll find anyone
>else who’s heard of it. But traditions have to start somewhere!
Joke? You’ve maybe heard of William of Orange? These colors have a long history. It’s no accident that the Irish flag contains both colors.
As a Scandanavian-American, I bristle at suggestions that I should wear green on St. Patrick’s day. Given the many “expeditions” my people made to Ireland between the 4th and 10th centuries, Irish people should be wearing Blue and Yellow to celebrate Leif Ericson day (September 12).
In fact, many of us of Viking descent feel that Ireland is actually a rogue province, and we hint that Force will be used, if made necessary if Ireland declares independence. Not just Ireland, the entire UK.
One salivates at the prospect. . . what if the Vikings had WON at Stanford Bridge in 1066, then successfully repelled the Norman invasion a few weeks later? History would be very different today. We might all be driving Volvos and Saabs. We might also have public health insurance.
The story of St Patrick banishing the snakes is rubbish. He is honored because he didnt tell the Irish, who were at the time Pagen, to totally get rid of thier traditions. The Irish at that time praised the sun, Patrick brought that into his teachings, and that is the reason we have the Celtic Cross now. He is also famous for teaching the Holy Trinity by using a clover as an example. As for the flag of Ireland, the green represents the Catholics, and the orange represents the protestants and the white is supposed to represent the peace between them. But I say it represents keeping them seperated.
Erin Go Braugh
“In order for an Irishman to talk to his equal, he is forced to speak to God”
The green does look really bad. I thought something was wrong with my computer at first.
Josh, in honor of my dad (your grandpa!) I wore my orange shirt today, with a green jacket so that I wasn’t getting pinched all day. And all day I was explaining the Protestant “orange” rule. Since dad was such an expert at trivia, I figured he had learned it somewhere along his lifetime! I sure do miss him…
I have Irish ancestors who fought in the Civil War - some Union, some Confederate. I’m wearing blue and grey with my green.
Ugh, the Northmen were victorious over the Anglo-Saxons, remember? Battle of Hastings ring a bell? Sure they spoke French and had been living in Normandy for decades, but what difference does that make?
Well, actually Patrick was born in Scotland at Kilpatrick near Dumbarton, but died in Ireland on 17 March 493. As for colors, I usually wear my Clan tartan colors (Clan McAlister) that day, which have green in them but no orange, although my particular family line was Presbyterian and did live in Ulster for several hundred years before coming to the north American colonies.