Category Archives: RELIGION

St Patricks Day

finalstpat2

Illustration by Sarah Pippins

This image represents the origins of Saint Patrick’s stories and ideas which are incorporated into the famous holiday celebrating Irish descent. Saint Patrick is actually a Roman Catholic from Britain who was kidnapped by the Irish at a young age. After he escaped he returned to Ireland to “drive all the snakes out.” Historians believe this to refer to Druidism and Pagan practices since druids were known to have snakes tattooed on their forearms. Saint Patrick also used the shamrock to represent the Holy Trinity which was actually first used to represents various goddess triplets such as Morrigan and her sisters, Macha and Badh. Ironically, the song, Wearin’ o’ the Green, which praises Saint Patrick reads this:

“So if the color we must wear be England’s cruel red; Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed; And pull the shamrock from your hat and throw it on the sod; But never fear, ’twill take root there, though underfoot ’tis trod.”

 

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St. Valentine Beheaded

February 14, 278 A.D

Valentines

On February 14, around the year 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.

Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.

Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.”

For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.

source: www.history.com

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