When the Snakes Come Marching in!

[Kevin]

I thought I would give you a quick reminder of what St. Patrick's day probably ment to Celtic druids.
In a recent Blog
"As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the legend will be retold of how the Christian missionary Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. However, zoologists say there never were snakes in Ireland, and historians suggest that the snakes refer instead to the druids, who had their own non-Christian religion."
Here is a quote from Wikipedia
"Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though post-glacial Ireland never actually had snakes;[37] one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul (see Carnutes), or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolized as “serpents”."
Even though none of this is completely credible, I find it highly probbable. I will deffinatley party on St. Patricks Day, but it wont be in honor of a Catholic Saint. Will you party on St. Patricks day?

[D]

This is funny as I was contemplating this very thing! Though my thoughts on it were more along the lines of being that Christianity more times than not copied pagan holidays and called them their own, my inquiry was more along the lines of what holiday was it prior to the Christians, or was it completely of their creation?
As for the current status of the holiday, I am neither Irish nor Christian; however, both are my/our brethren, and just as we celebrate our friends birthdays, so shall I celebrate St. Patrick's Day

[carole]

MM Kevin, sorry to tell you this? but it isn'St Patricks day It's the Welsh saints day! St David! You are right about Patrick chasing all the snakes from Ireland, but as one of the people onsite pointed out, there were none there to start with! The Druids were all Celtic, and they were in Ireland and Wales and Scotland, and were eventually driven out of their home by the English with Christianity! But the old ways live on! They found their way, so myths to America ! and Theyare still there today! BB

[Han Solo]

I looked the day up on wikipedia and found this... at Link
"It became a feast day in the Roman Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding[2] in the early part of the 17th century, and is a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The date of the feast is occasionally moved by church authorities when March 17 falls during Holy Week; this last happened in 1940 when Saint Patrick's Day was observed on 3 April in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and will happen again in 2008, when it shall be held on 15 March.[3]"

There is no mention of Welsh anything or St. David anything.

I think Kevin is right... I will drink on St. Pattys day though, also..
Here is some song lyrics by Pagan author Issac Bonewits. Web Site

Bring Back the Snakes
© 1997, 2001 c.e.
words by Isaac Bonewits
music trad. ("My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean")

'Twas on a bright Midsummer's evening,
An old woman I chanced for to see.
She grabbed both my shoulders and shook 'em,
Saying, "Bring back the snakes to me!"

Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!

"My land was a jewel most blessed,
My people both happy and free,
Till the preachers came in with their crosses,
And drove all the snakes out to sea."

Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!

"Yes, 'snakes' was the word that they used then,
For the masters of all druidry,
Whom they murdered, converted or banished,
As threats to their new tyranny."

Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!

"Now it's past fifteen centuries later,
The results now are clear for to see;
Ireland was better off Pagan,
So bring back the snakes to me!"

Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!

Then the old woman's face started changing,
Every country and race I could see.
She said, "All lands are better off Pagan,
So bring back the snakes to me!"

Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!

[Kevin]

Hehehehe... Thats a funny song.
I did find an article on St. David on Wikipedia (isnt Wkipedia great?).
It says
"It is claimed that David lived for over 100 years, and he died on a Tuesday 1 March (now St David's Day). "

So I think that there isnt any corrilation between St. David's day being there on different days, and they probbably would of mentioned it in the article. There is some stuff about Wales on there though...
I looked around the internet and could not find any mention about a Pre-Christian Pattys Day Festival. Mabe someone could help out with that if there is one.. But, I dont think it has Pre-Christian origins.

Oh, I never said anything about St. Patrick killing "All" of the Druids, just the ones in Ireland, and I also suggested that it was hypothetical becues there was no sound evidence. But, there is evedence that he converted Ireland to Christianity.

[Megan]

I do believe that I work on this wonderful holiday, whatever it may be about. Besides, the only partying I ever do is with my group, so I have to wait until Ostara to party...if even then.

[Megan]

St. Patty's Day is the one day of the year when I never feel younger. I'm still not old enough to drink, so even when all of my friends go to the bars to drink (YOU SUCK, KEV!), I can't. I could go, but since I'm broke, too, I'd be sitting there watching people falling off their chairs while I sip on ice water.

Though, I must say, seeing Haggis in a kilt is almost worth it! (Inside joke)