There are two points worth noting at the outset of any discussion of Saint Patrick’s Day.

First, it has nothing to do with leprechauns. The Irish culture (Celtic) is deeply rooted in mythology, a mythology that includes a wide variety of faeries – good and bad, playful and mischievous – who come in a variety of shapes and sizes.The word leprechaun comes from the Gaelic "lobaircin," which means "small-bodied fellow." Although it has nothing, whatsoever, to do with Saint Patrick’s Day, leprechauns have become the recognizable symbol of Ireland in general.

Second, Saint Patrick’s Day is considered the national holiday of Ireland (much like the fourth of July in the United States is a uniquely America holiday.) However, Saint Patrick’s Day, of all secular holidays with roots in religion, is the most exclusively Christian holiday in origin, and does not borrow from other cultural mythology. Unlike Christmas and Easter, there are virtually no non-Christian roots to Saint Patrick’s Day. As a result, Christians – predominantly Catholics – everywhere celebrate it. Likewise, Irish people, wherever they live, celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. And because it is so intertwined with Irish culture, the leprechaun emerged as the obvious symbol for this widely celebrated holiday.

Saint Patrick himself was the son of an English Deacon, and was taken captive by Irish pillagers who were robbing the family estate. He spent six years in captivity before escaping, during which time he worked as a Shepard in the countryside, largely alone and in the company of animals and nature. Eventually, he claims to have heard God’s voice, which set him on a more than 200-mile walk to the English border to his freedom. At that point, he became a devout Christian, spending the next 15 years in training to become an ordained Catholic Priest.

It was then that he again heard God’s voice and returned to Ireland in order to spread Catholicism. Knowing so much about Celtic mythology, he incorporated many of their traditional symbols and stories in his teachings – and this was likely the beginning of traditional Celtic Crosses, and even using leprechauns as a symbol of things like Saint Patrick’s Day. Though leprechaun’s are not related to Saint Patrick in any way, it’s very fitting that they are used this way, as he was very clever about using existing symbols and mythology to express his teachings.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, which is believed to be the anniversary of his death. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years. This date falls during the Christian season of Lent, which prohibits the eating of meat on Fridays. However, if Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, the church grants a waiver, and the traditional Irish meal of Corned beef and Cabbage can be eaten. This may account for some of the holiday’s popularity. It is generally considered a very “festive” (some might say “partying”) holiday, and as a dispensation from a variety of rules and regulations.

As Irish immigrants spread around the globe – especially during the potato famine – they brought Saint Patrick’s Day with them as their most beloved celebration. As a result, Saint Patrick’s Day is now a global holiday.As the Guinness Beer marketing slogan says, “Everyone’s Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day!”

Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false, simply the products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling.That said, they do harken back to a man who was at one with nature and worked to serve people on their own terms – and that spirit is still alive and well.