Today, March 17th, marks the Christian holiday of St. Patrick’s Day which marks his death back in the 5th century. St. Patrick’s Day honors the patron saint of Ireland whose real name is Maewyn Succat. He is named St. Patrick because that’s the name of the place where he was buried. Christians in Ireland have celebrated this as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. However, the history of St. Patrick isn’t so great for many Pagans, many who protest or don’t acknowledge the holiday at all.

You may have heard of the sermon given by St. Patrick that was so powerful that is drove all the “snakes” out of Ireland. The snakes are a metaphor referring to the removal of the Pagans and Druidic priests from Ireland. The myth, however, that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland isn’t even true. The conversion to Christianity took place over a long period of time. This was done gradually and aggressively, stripping away the native Irish’s traditions, religion and the worship of their Gods and Goddesses by means of social pressure which likely went well beyond that. The effects of the evangelism did leave its marks on Catholicism, many of the Irish Gods and Goddesses are Saints. Saint Brigid, Saint Oliver Plunkett, Saint Cataldus and others (note, I didn’t research all these Saint as to which were the old Irish Gods and Goddesses).

While St. Patrick’s Day has become a more secular celebration such as wearing green, drinking beer and various festivals. Pagans do protest St. Patrick by wearing a serpent pin or shirt on or around the holiday and the Pagan holiday Ostara. Some choose a bolder means of protesting by creating a Spring Snake Wreath.

This research on St. Patrick’s Day lead me to realize that religious colonialism still occurs today, often in the form of missionaries. I am not anti-Christian, but I am anti-evangelism. I don’t think it is right to shove religion down someone’s throat in the name of charity. Helping people is great by itself, it shouldn’t come with the Bible or any other religious strings attached. Seems that some people who participate in missions look to be humbled, the mentality is selfish because it is not about you. It should be about the effects on the people you’re supposed to be helping. There are plenty of people who need help and you don’t have to travel to another continent to do so. You should help people for the sake of helping, not because it makes you feel good, or that it humbles you.

Sources:

https://metro.co.uk/2017/03/17/how-a-pagan-celebrates-st-patricks-day-6513439

https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/twelve-irish-saints-who-arent-st-patrick-94008

https://www.facebook.com/pagansoftheancientmountains/posts/1776196509151443

https://bethanygu.edu/blog/mission-trips/mission-trips-bad/

https://www.lsureveille.com/opinion/opinion-mission-trips-essentially-modern-day-colonialism/article_f948dfc6-e307-11e9-9082-5324e6d75d1c.html

Music:

Inspired by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license