The Origin of Saint Patricks Day in the Middle Ages

Every year on March 17th, people in many countries and faiths gather to celebrate Saint Patricks Day. But why?
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was the man who brought Christianity to Ireland in the first place. Saint Patrick is also a real man. In fact, most of the factual information we have about him he wrote himself. He wrote a letter called the Epistola and an autobiography called the Confessio. In the Middle Ages, Saint Patrick had a feast day in his honor on March 17th. Because it was in the middle of Lent (see my post on Lent and Easter here), people welcomed his holiday. On feast days, people could eat some of the forbidden foods.
What was Saint Patrick’s life like? How did we get our modern traditions?

The Life of Saint Patrick

Story of Saint Patrick | English | Stories of Saints by
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Early Life and Capture

Saint Patrick has his own well-celebrated holiday, but what was his life like? Saint Patrick was not Irish but British. He came from a well-off family. In fact, his family owned slaves and had many servants. As a child, Patrick wasn’t a great Christian. He was actually a bit of a wayward child, and his relationship with God needed work.

When he was about sixteen, Patrick and his family were at their villa when pirates attacked. His family escaped, but Patrick and many of the family’s servants and slaves were captured. The pirates sailed on to Ireland. He was sold as a slave to a native tribal leader who forced him to tend sheep. In his own words…

“After I arrived in Ireland, I tended sheep every day, and I prayed frequently during the day. More and more the love of God increased, and my sense of awe before God. Faith grew, and my spirit was moved, so that in one day I would pray up to one hundred times, and at night perhaps the same.“
From the Confessio by Saint Patrick

Finally, Patrick was growing a connection with God. Other slaves around him called him ‘Holy Boy’ and made fun of him. Of course, that didn’t stop him from praying and learning about God’s love.

Escape and Return Home

Finally, after six years of being a slave in Ireland, he had a vision where he was told he would soon be free. Then, another time he had a dream that told him to leave his master. The boat he was to ride on was 200 miles away. Talk about faith!

When he arrived, the captain he was told to ride with didn’t want him. However, right as they were about to set off, the crew changed their minds. On the way back to Britain, they ran out of food. After days without food, everyone was starving. The captain asked him to pray for help if he thought help would come. Patrick responded…

“Turn in faith with all your hearts to the Lord my God, because nothing is impossible for him, so that he may put food in your way – even enough to make you fully satisfied! He has an abundance everywhere.”
From the Confessio by Saint Patrick

Patrick was right. While docked, his cremates looked around, and a whole herd of pigs came. There was plenty to eat for days afterward.

The crew was converted to Christianity, which was Patrick’s original hope when he boarded the boat. Finally, they reached Patrick’s home and family. After all that time, his family begged him to never leave them again. He started learning to be a bishop of the church.

Saint Patrick’s Return to Ireland

After Patrick became a bishop, he had another dream. In this dream, he saw an Irish man with a letter. Patrick wrote about reading it in his Confessio. He said…

While I was reading out the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard at that moment the voice of those who were beside the wood of Voclut, near the western sea. They called out as it were with one voice: “We beg you, holy boy, to come and walk again among us.” This touched my heart deeply, and I could not read any further; I woke up then.
From the Confessio by Saint Patrick

Patrick set off to Ireland again, this time willingly. He traveled the land teaching people about God and how to read and write. He also spent his time avoiding assassination attempts by those who didn’t want him teaching, angering some leaders and befriending others along the way. Unlike many saints, Saint Patrick died of old age, supposedly on March 17th.

Legends of Saint Patrick

While he was in Ireland for the second time, Saint Patrick did many astonishing things, like teaching the gospel to the Irish. Before then, they worshipped idols and many gods. Over time people exaggerated his exploits and added ideas for how he taught.

For example, one miracle people believe he performed was banishing all snakes from Ireland. He used a bell. This legend came hundreds of years after his death. It is true, though, that there are no snakes in Ireland today. However there are also no snake fossils either, which may indicate that he was simply driving “evil and paganism” (symbolized by the snake) out of Ireland.

Another bit of folklore is about his teaching. Everyone knows the shamrock is part of Saint Patricks Day, but it only became a symbol because people believe he used it. Saint Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

Celebrations of Saint Patricks Day in the Middle Ages

Saint Patricks Day didn’t gain popularity until after the Middle Ages, but the Irish knew him as their patron saint (see my post on saints, including patron saints, here). In fact, he was the patron saint of Ireland in about the seventh century. The Irish loved him for converting them and their ancestors at a time when few bishops, if any, were willing to give them a chance.

He was still decently well-known in England and France as paintings depicted him in books of saints. Saint Patricks Day was a calmer holiday, as it was in the middle of Lent. Later, people could have a feast day in his honor with some foods and drinks forbidden during Lent. They even believed they could eat meat because Saint Patrick had to eat meat during Lent once. He supposedly dunked it in water, and it became fish. So they would boil their meat to allow them to eat meat on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Leprechauns and Saint Patricks Day

Now that we’ve learned about Saint Patrick and the shamrock, why don’t we take a moment to understand the leprechaun’s part in Saint Patricks Day? Leprechauns did not come into the holiday for a long time.

They were only added because they originated in Irish stories and were symbols of Ireland. Leprechauns were seen as mischievous and dangerous. I’m glad we put leprechauns into our celebrations and traditions! They also started out as red creatures rather than green ones.

Did you know that Saint Patrick was British, and visited Ireland first as a slave? What other holidays would you like to learn about? Tell me in the comments!