Many pagans don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day because St. Pat christianized Ireland and quite frankly, we still resent it. "Driving the snakes out of Ireland" is the mytho-poetic term often used to refer to St. Patrick's sometimes forced conversion of the local pagans. Snakes were powerful Druid symbols of energy and spirit.
Some pagans call March 17th Snake Day instead. To celebrate paganism's survival and current revival despite Christianity's best efforts, they wear snake imagery to show that, by Goddess, St. Pat didn't get all of us! Serpentine jewelry, pins and t-shirts are popular choices on Snake Day.
Others call March 17th Irish Heritage Day, preferring to retain and celebrate all the good things about Ireland while not lionizing St. Patrick and Christianity. This is the route I like to go. Irish culture is rich, complex and gives so much to the world . . .
. . . including some light-hearted fun too.
Well, everyone, guess I'd better sign off now and go practice my bodhran! Erin go bragh!
28 comments:
While I think the history behind it is deplorable, it's still a great excuse to have a beer...! Love those earrings :) Happy Irish Heritage Day to Ya!
Well have a great day whether you celebrate or not.I'm not a fan of snakes although Iknow they do the garden good, those earrings are very unusual,,
Love those earrings:) I'm letting my Irish genes down because I'm not having a beer tonight - I'm having Italian sparkling water :)
Happy Irish Heritage Day to you :)
I'm very, very fond of snakes. :D :D I put Irish whiskey in my mustard greens yesterday ... delish and starting a wee bit early! Erin go bragh!
Happy Irish Heritage Day, Debra! Hope you have a lovely, fun-filled weekend.
Great intro picture! I didn't know about snake day as a celebration. I'll be on the lookout today! Erin go bragh!
Those are fantastic earrings! And I'm one of those people proud to be Irish and not celebrating 'St. Patrick's Day'. Drove out the snakes, indeed. Brighid is my 'Goddess of choice' and St Patrick can go suck a shamrock. Enjoy your day however you celebrate!
I used to get all frumpy around the 17th, but now, I'm all for the fun. Got us some Irish beer and we are going to enjoy the day!
A very Blessed Irish Heritage Day to you! I hope it's a wonderful one.
Bright blessings,
Bird
I do love me Irish people, they are almost identical to my Serbian people.
Happy Irish Heritage day to you as well. I'm actually going to make some corned beef and cabbage today. My Dominican hubby requested it. Of course, I shop at a supermarket caters to Spanish, so who knows if he will get his wish?
Mary
snakes are powerful symbols.... St. Pat fans may see green snakes after all that green beer....
Frisky...give me some whiskey...just had to say that!!!Happy S. P. day!!
Great image of St Paddy saying "Scoot"! Great idea about Snake Day, though my sensibilities are a little threatened by the actual Snakes. Hey,put down that beer and get drumming!!
~hey that shirt is speaking my loves language!!! a blessed irish heritage day to you and yours...much love light and blessings~
ha ha..cute t-shirt! thanks for a fabulous post!
Victoria
Happy St Patricks to you too! And would you believe I have the same shirt!
I'm loving the earrings as well, they're so unusual. I'm just about to settle down with a glass of Guinness - at least today I have an excuse!
I would wear the hell out of those earrings. :-)
Pearl
Ohhh- I like it. Being one who despises every Pagan holiday being turned into some "christian" event, I now have a new love for snakes....and those earrings!
My facebook wall has a pic of Colin Farrell for today - lol
Great cartoon!
LOL...I do like that shirt! Irish whiskey just makes me flat out drunk...no getting frisky on that!
I love snakes and those earrings. I respect them and give them their space, also they are beautiful!
I love the snake earrings!
As for the bodhran, after reading your post about it, I noticed Great Big Sea using it on CBC Kids. I suspect I'll notice one somewhere tomorrow since that's how these things go. Now if only I could remember how to say it properly.
Hope you enjoyed Irish Heritage Day!
someone said I should just be a good Pagan and let it go..I said I wasn't that good of a Pagan and fuck St. Patrick..
Erin go bragh
My grandparents were born in Ireland and when I was a kid, my grandfather would come to our house, dressed in a green suit, with green socks, green shirt, green tie and St. Patrick's Day stickers on his bald head. He always had a bag of goodies for us, whether it be green cookies or cupcakes. Also, NEVER call it St. Pat's Day, G-Pop HATED that!! By the way, his name was Patrick too...which may explain why he was so sensitive.
axually... tis 'erin go bragh-less! :P
all me mick pals at uni got me singing oirish songs, and drinking so much green beer, i can't stomach that food color any longer...
still do the 'orange and the green' songs, tho! ;)
I had no idea that was what the whole "snake" thing was about. What a dick.
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