More to St. Patrick than green food, rivers, drinks
Campus Times
March 19, 1999
by Nune Gazdhyan
Assistant Features Editor
Finding a four-leafed clover usually is double the good luck. Wearing
green to school to avoid getting pinched is a life-saver. To dye rivers,
food and beverages green is just the beginning. There is a lot more to St.
Patrick's Day than green food and clovers.
For St. Patrick's Day, the Irish take the time to remember their patron
saint, St. Patrick, and people in America party that day, taking advantage
of the day as well.
For the Irish, St. Patrick's Day is more than just drinking and being
rowdy as is stereotyped by many Americans. It is a time where families get
together for a day of going to church and spending quality time with each
other.
St. Patrick was born in Whales about 385 A.D. His given name was Maewyn
Succat.
At 16, Patrick was sold into slavery by Irish raiders who invaded his
town. During this time he became close to God. After six years of being
bound, he escaped to Gaul where he joined a monastery and stayed for 12
years.
While in the monastery, he became aware that his calling was to convert
the Irish pagans, who had overrun Ireland, into Christians.
His mission in Ireland lasted 30 years. While in Ireland, he was respected
and often considered a saint.
It was believed that he could raise the dead. He is also said to have
given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes out of Ireland.
While it is true that there are no snakes in Ireland, it is really not
St. Patrick's doing.
It is believed that St. Patrick's death fell on his birthday, March
17, but his birthday and time of death was not documented, and there are
many discrepancies.
Still, every year on March 17, the Irish take time out to remember him
and to celebrate his life. But the celebrations for the Irish include far
more than just a reason to get drunk.
St. Patrick is a hero in Ireland. There are about 60 churches and cathedrals
named after him. The most famous one is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.
Green is also associated with St. Patrick because it is the color of
spring, Ireland and the shamrock.
Leprechauns are also an association because, according to Irish legend,
leprechauns are unsociable, unfriendly and live alone. They make shoes and
possess a hidden pot of gold. If one is captured, he must reveal where his
pot of gold is hidden unless he is able to trick his finder and vanish.
All this unrelated Irish legends are linked to St. Patrick's Day.
St. Patrick's Day was introduced to America in 1737 by Irish immigrants.
It was celebrated, for the first time, in Boston.
The fever of St. Patrick's Day spread among the Americans. Every year
they too have the opportunity to join the Irish in the celebration of their
saint and have fun celebrating the Americanized version of the event.
Since St. Patrick's Day is associated with alcohol and Spring Break
is drawing near, which is also associated with partying and drinking, the
University of La Verne's Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Committee
sponsored a "Safe Break Week."
On Monday, March 15, a crashed car from an actual accident was placed
in Sneaky Park to remind students what drunk driving can lead to.
On Wednesday at lunch, sororities served students mocktails at Davenport.
On Thursday at noon, a panel of guest speakers talked about alcohol, drug
and rape prevention. The lunchtime event lasted from 11:30 a.m. until 1
p.m.
This is the second year an event like this was sponsored on campus.
