Jump to content

Home

St. Patrick's Day


Artoo

Recommended Posts

A happy st. patty's with all the luck o' the irish to every one of ya lads and lassies out there today. Let the party begin!

 

does anybody really know what St. Patrick did or is it just a reason for a lot of people to get drunk and party?

 

*sets up the keg for any other patty's day partyers*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

 

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice—which he believed to be God's—spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation—an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission—to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. (Interestingly, this mission contradicts the widely held notion that Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland.)

 

Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity instead of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish.

 

(Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's life became exaggerated over the centuries—spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life. )

 

-taken from The History Channel

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh did anyone else notice our avatars coming back for a moment this morning or was no one else on? I saw mine! Or was it another mindless hallucination. Oh well they were there for a second. Oh well, *punches Clefo just for insulting Ireland* (even though me has no boiling Irish blood in me)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Artoo

Oh did anyone else notice our avatars coming back for a moment this morning or was no one else on? I saw mine! Or was it another mindless hallucination. Oh well they were there for a second.

 

yep mine was up enough for me to change it hehehe

 

Shortly afterwards tho, the forums went down due to loading or something. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by captain_drake

only yer ugly mug mate

*he roars and throws his glass at artoo*

damn it now i have to get another beer

 

Why do you always call everyone a "lad" or a "mate"? It's kinda of annoying when someone who is obviously younger than you calls you "boy", "lad", or "mate, IMHO. *shrugs*

 

I'm of Irish descent, too... I'm not a overly violent person. I don't drink, either. :eek:

 

Happy belated St. Patrick's day, "Lads". :rolleyes:

 

EDIT: OH! Nevermind... I can see now that you were just trying to sound Irish! *slaps forehead*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...