Why do we get to wear green and drink beer today?

Eliza Knight, author of Highlander's Touch, schools us in the history of St. Patrick's Day.

Eliza: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today, people, including myself, wear green and put on little pins or necklaces that say, "Kiss me, I'm Irish." I even Jamberry'd my nails in a cute St. Patty's Day-style. I'm going to eat green food and drink green beer and dance to an Irish ditty. Too-ra loo-ra loo-ral! Too-ra loo-ra li! (My grandfather and father always sang this to me!)

But why do we celebrate? What does it mean? Why are we drinking beer and eating green food? Who is St. Patrick and why should we care?

St. Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland — however, he wasn't born in the lush green country. He was born in Britain around the fourth century, to a wealthy Roman Catholic family. In fact, his father was involved with the Christian church, perhaps as a deacon. Some say he was a deacon, others say he was a Roman official. In any case, at the age of 16, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate and he was sold to an Irish chieftain as a slave. He was held, and worked for six years as a shepherd. Being so absolutely alone in a strange country, Saint Patrick turned to God for solace. This is where his first thoughts of changing the pagan country to Christianity began.

After six years, Patrick began to have visions and dreams, and a voice spoke to him, whom he thought was God. God told him he needed to leave Ireland. Patrick managed to escape captivity and walked roughly 200 miles to the coast of Ireland, where he boarded a vessel and made his way home. Shortly after returning home, he had another dream. This time the voice told him he needed to return to Ireland as a missionary. Believing this was his true mission in life, Patrick began his religious training, which took 15 years. Once he was ordained as a priest, Patrick returned to the country where he'd been enslaved, to minister Christians who already lived there, as well as to spread the religion and convert those who practiced pagan ways. It is a myth that Patrick was the first to introduce Christianity to Ireland, however, he did bring it into popularity.

Understanding that in order to convert the pagans, he'd need to integrate some of their own traditions, Patrick went by the Gaelic name Patricius Daorbae (Daorbae meaning: "he was enslaved"). What probably helped Patrick the most was his understanding of the people, having lived there for so many years himself. While spreading Christianity, he merged native traditions and rituals in his lessons. On Easter, he used a bonfire, as the Irish loved to use bonfires to celebrate the gods. Patrick was also the one who created the Celtic cross: a sun (a powerful Celtic symbol) placed onto the Christian cross. He treated the people as equals instead of acting above them, which gained their trust and friendships.

Legend says Patrick came to Ireland and banished all the snakes from the isle. It has been suggested that the snakes in reference are to the serpent symbol of Druidism — and he expelled pagan (snake) practices from the country. It is also said that Patrick used the three-leaf clover to explain the holy trinity to the people. The green shamrock is where we actually get the celebrated color. Throughout history, people would pluck a shamrock and put it in their lapel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

About that leprechaun … Leprechauns in Irish folklore were not depicted the same as they are now — today, we see the Irish-American version. For one thing, they used to wear red, changing to green in the 20th century when the color was given as a mascot for all things Irish. A fairy could be good to you — or very, very bad. In ancient history, fairies could even kill a human. They were used to set boundaries around sacred places. Leprechauns were crotchety, mischievous fairy shoemakers. Indeed they supplied all the dancing fairies with their footwear, hence making themselves rich. Leprechauns hoarded their golden profits in pots at the ends of rainbows. Whenever we saw a rainbow when I was a child, my Irish grandfather encouraged us to chase after it. He'd even run with us to find the gold, which of course, we never did ... And why do we see these little green fairies all over? Because they're Irish, duh, and St. Patrick's Day has become more of a holiday to celebrate the Irish culture vs. the man who brought Christianity to Ireland.

Two letters remain that are believed to be written by Patrick. One is The Confession of Saint Patrick and the other is A Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus. They are both fascinating, and if you're interested in his life, I would read them!

Saint Patrick died on March 17, 460 (the year does vary), in Ireland. March 17 is considered Saint Patrick's Feast Day in the Christian church and is celebrated by many countries besides Ireland as St. Patrick's Day.

As the Irish began emigrating to other countries, they brought their tradition with them. Having parades and celebrations to celebrate their patron saint was a way to connect with their fellow countrymen. And the beer? Well, you know us Irish, we love a good ale! As for the corned beef and cabbage? The meal is actually Irish America. Most of the immigrants were poor and this was the best fare they could afford—and is now a staple for the holiday.

When you think of how deeply Irish history is meshed with legend, myth and lore, it is no wonder that the story surrounding St. Patrick and his Feast Day has been exaggerated and become quite a myth itself.

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Find out more about Eliza and her books at www.elizaknight.com.