Is Saint Patrick's Day a Pagan holiday?

Answer 1

Yes it is. It is in honour of St. Patrick who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. It is Ireland's national holiday, and also a day of holy obligation, meaning that people go to their churches on that day. Around the world where there are Irish people, it is celebrated, though it is not a holiday in all of those countries.

Answer 2

Yes, it is. St. Patrick's day is in celebration of the Saint, Patrick. Patrick was born in Scotland or Wales. He was taken away by Irishmen to be sacrificed to pagan gods. However, he somehow ended up as a slave. He worked hard as a slave, which his owner rewarded him for, but he never earned his freedom. Instead, Patrick had a dream. There was a ship, and he knew it was his escape ship. One night he ran away and boarded the ship. Many other things happened, but at the end he went back to Ireland to spread the Gospel to the pagan worshipers.

Answer 3

Yes! Pagan holidays are usually Christian celebrated. (which st. Patrick's day IS a replacement Christian holiday for an older pagan holiday.)

Roman Catholic AnswerOf course not, Saint Patrick is a Christian saint. Saints feast days are normally the day of their death (their "birth" unto heaven). Seeing as saints die in lands that were pagan for centuries before their birth it would be kind of impossible for them to die on days that had never been pagan holidays, and sometimes the customs from these old pagan holidays continue to be practiced on the saints day, but that are not the same thing. A Pagan Perspective

It should also be noted that all the festivities and symbols associated with modern "St Patrick's" Day are Pagan in origin. Shamrocks, leprechauns and green rule. Surely, raucous drinking and green beer are not religious practices.

• Shamrocks bloom in early spring. Botanists have determined the original shamrock of Ireland is the white clover. The early, pre-Christian Celts believed that the white clover plant could repel evil spirits. It had been used by Pagans to signify the three faces of the Moon Goddess- Maiden, Mother and Crone. St. Patrick used the popular leaf to illustrate the meaning of the Holy Trinity. It can be assumed he knew its Pagan significance and overlay a Christian significance to the happy little leaf.
• Green is a lucky color in several European countries because of its association with trees, which are of extremely important significance in ancient Pagan traditions. One of the most cruel acts committed by early militant Christians was to cut down ancient groves of trees that were places of Pagan worship. Green is especially special in Ireland
• Legend has it that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. While Ireland has never had a snake population the snake was a common Pagan symbol. The Church added that chapter to the St. Patrick story to imply that Patrick drove the Pagans out of Ireland.
• Leprechauns are relics of Pagan mythology.

Patrick worked diligently as a Roman Catholic missionary to incorporate traditional Pagan traditions into his lessons and into Christian holy days. It was an important part of the program in spreading Christianity in those days since a primary goal was to stamp out Paganism. "Patrick" [not his birth name] would have been well aware of Druid practices. His place of birth is obscure but he was born in Roman Britain, possibly Wales. He was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. After his escape he joined a monastery and was said to have dreamed of returning to Ireland to teach the Pagans about his God and convert them to Christianity. After his return as a missionary, he had many run-ins with the Celtic Druids. He incorporated a sun onto the Christian cross in Ireland only because the early Celts worshipped the sun as their chief god. Of course, the circle in the center of the cross was given a whole new Christian symbolism. Note the design of the Celtic Cross at the related link.

The Irish have a rich tradition of story telling and St. Patrick has benefitted from that tradition. Therefore the answer is yes, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of Pagan Ireland as much as it is a celebration of Patrick the missionary.

Answer 4

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

Answer 5

St. Patrick is credited with having brought Christianity to Ireland. So it is a Christian holiday, though it is not a holy day of obligation.. It is also the national holiday of Ireland, so it is a public holiday too.

Answer 6

I don't think so. St. Patrick's Day was created by a Catholic.Yet, this holiday is for all people.