Holiday Drinks: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish Cocktails

St. Patrick's Day is March 17. St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland. According to folklore, he is referred to most famously, and falsely, for removing snakes from Ireland.

His life was one shrouded in mystery. St. Patrick was born in the later part of the 4^th Century in Britain. His parents were wealthy. His father was a Christian deacon, for tax purposes not for religious reasons.

At the age of 16 St. Patrick was abducted and imprisoned by Irish raiders. He was held captive and enslaved as a shepherd for more than 6 years. Isolated, he turned to prayer and became a devout Christian.

After escaping on foot, over a 200-mile walk, to Britain, St. Patrick's writings tell us that he had visions. An angel, in a dream, told him he should return to Ireland as a missionary. For 15 years studied Christianity to be ordained as a priest and embark on this mission.

Some tales tell that St. Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, which is false. St. Patrick was sent to Ireland to do two things. First, he was to serve as a minister to Christians already living in Ireland. Second, he was to convert the non-Christian Irish who practiced a nature-based pagan religion.

In his lessons, St. Patrick utilized symbols and rituals to assimilate Christian beliefs to pagan traditions. Highly honored symbols, such as the sun and fire rituals, were incorporated into the symbol of the cross and Easter celebrations. The Celtic cross is the most recognizable symbol attributed to St. Patrick. Teaching in this manner he was able to turn Irish pagans to Christianity.

St. Patrick is believed to have died on March 17 during the 5^th Century. For thousands of years, in honor of him, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on this day. Since St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent, historically, Irish families would fulfill their religious obligations by attending mass in the morning. In the afternoon, Lenten fasting would be waived. Celebrations with music, dancing, drinking, and feasting on a meal of bacon and cabbage would be enjoyed. (History)