Lot of people going to selebrate St. Patrick's day on 17'th March.
And I wanted to know a story behind this selebration.
According to this site http://www.saintpatricksday.co.nz/default.asp?PageName=StPat
He got rid of all the snakes, or in another version - got rid of all the druids, because snake was a symbol of their religion.
Maybe there is some interesting meaning behind this story. Can anyone help me to find an information about it?
And I wanted to know a story behind this selebration.
According to this site http://www.saintpatricksday.co.nz/default.asp?PageName=StPat
He got rid of all the snakes, or in another version - got rid of all the druids, because snake was a symbol of their religion.
Was this man a factual historical figure, or it's another symbolical story, a myth? Why snakes? And why druids?It is thought St Patrick went to Ireland from West Britain around 400 AD. Legend says that as a youth he was kidnapped by an Irish raiding party and sold as a slave, but after several years of herding animals he escaped to Europe where he became a priest. Then, one night he dreamed of a voice that called to him to return to Ireland to 'walk once more among us'. His mission was to convert the Pagan Celts to Christianity.
In this he most certainly succeeded, but used rather unusual methods. His most famous feat - ridding Ireland of its snakes - was carried out (according to the legend) by persuading them to slither into boxes, which he then threw into the sea. The rough waters of the Irish Sea are said to be caused by the violent movement of the snakes trying to escape from their boxes.
Another theory suggests that in introducing Christianity, what he really rid Ireland of was Druids (the symbol of this ancient religion was a snake). Whatever the truth of the matter, there are no snakes and few druids in Ireland today.
Maybe there is some interesting meaning behind this story. Can anyone help me to find an information about it?