Each March 17 different cities of the world celebrate the Saint Patrick’s day, which consists of a cultural and religious commemoration, which dates back to 1762. It is commemorated on that date since the Catholic missionary died that day in the year 461.
Saint Patrick was born in the west of the then Britannia in the year 390, according to the text Saint Patrick Confession translated by Raúl Lavalle. At that time pirates of Irish origin looted the Roman villas and in one of those events he was kidnapped when he was 16 years and they took him to ireland.
In writing the Confession made by Saint Patrick revealed that he lived with a Christian family: his father was a clergyman and his grandfather a priest, which is why he was influenced by his religious family environment. After he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland, that situation made him think more about God.
Patrick escaped after 6 years and returned home to Britain, where he stayed with his family and prepared to be deacon and later priest. He dedicated himself to studying the Bible, traveled to Gaul but all his ecclesiastical education was carried out in his birthplace.
One of his friends made a request for Saint Patrick to be named Bishop of the Christians of Ireland. He made trips to remote places to preach the gospel and mainly to baptize. He also devoted himself to celebrating the Eucharist, ordaining clergymen, and establishing religious persons.
It is said that when the cleric preached he used a clover to explain the mystery Holy Trinity, according to which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the same unit. It is from there that this plant emerged as a symbol of the celebration.
The origin of the use of green color Saint Patrick’s day is related to the Irish flagwhich has this hue in one of its stripes, in addition to the fact that it is a country recognized for its natural landscapes plagued with this hue.
A curious fact is that green was not always associated with the saint, but that tradition dates back to the 19th century. Before that he blue it was the color associated with this Catholic figure.
Another element common to this festivity is the beer. This drink became very popular to commemorate Saint Patrick because during the restrictions in lent It was not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages with the exception of the days in which there is a liturgical festivity for that reason on March 17 people gather in bars, dress with color green and shamrock ornaments.
A curiosity is that in the Saint Patrick’s dayon March 17, 1846, one of the first boats headed for New York set sail from Dublin, USA. The ship’s crew fled Ireland due to misery and disease from the great famine that crossed the country for a year before, according to the National Institute of Historical Studies of the Revolutions of Mexico (INEHRM).
Some of these Irishmen ended up joining the army during the Mexican War of 1846-1848. Due to the mistreatment and hardships they suffered with the US side, some of them decided to join the Mexican soldiers.
The Irish are remembered for their part in the battle of Churubusco in 1847. they called themselves Saint Patrick’s Battalion.
In September 1959, a plaque was placed in memory of the men from Ireland who gave their lives during the US intervention in Mexico.
