Lucky Irish Cat Art & Limericks Plus St. Patrick’s Day Pagan Origins

St. Patrick’s Day is a widely celebrated holiday around the world, particularly in Ireland and the United States. It is a day where people dress in green, attend parades, and drink green beer, among other festive activities. However, the origins of this holiday are not widely known, and many people are unaware that the holiday has pagan roots.

Before the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the Irish people practiced a polytheistic religion. They worshipped a pantheon of gods and goddesses, including Lugh, the god of the sun, and Brigid, the goddess of spring and fertility. These gods and goddesses were often associated with the natural world, and their worship was tied to the cycles of the seasons.

One of the most important festivals in the pagan Irish calendar was Imbolc, which celebrated the beginning of spring. It was a time when people would make offerings to Brigid in the hopes of ensuring a successful growing season. Imbolc was typically celebrated on February 1st, which corresponds with the Christian holiday of Candlemas.

When Christianity arrived in Ireland, the Church sought to supplant pagan practices with Christian ones. St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, played a significant role in this process. According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. He also used symbols from pagan beliefs, such as the sun and the cross, to convert the Irish to Christianity.

Over time, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day became associated with the Christianization of Ireland. It was celebrated on March 17th, the date of St. Patrick’s death. However, many of the customs associated with the holiday have pagan roots.

For example, the wearing of green on St. Patrick’s Day is often seen as a nod to the Irish flag, which features green, white, and orange. However, green was also the color associated with the god Lugh, and it was believed to bring good luck. The custom of wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day likely originated as a way for Irish people to show their pride in their heritage and to honor the pagan traditions of their ancestors.

Another popular custom associated with St. Patrick’s Day is the consumption of alcohol, particularly beer. While there is no direct connection between this custom and pagan beliefs, alcohol has long been associated with celebrations and festivals in many cultures, including the pagan Irish. Adding food colouring to beer to create green beer was invented in New York by Dr. Thomas Hayes Curtin. He added a drop of blue to beer which turned it came a green and the rest is history.

Cheers or Sláinte, to your health!

First, a few vintage cards edited and with a feline touch.

I found a couple in this wonderful color pastel and not the usual green. Do you love this vintage 30s vibe.

Vintage cards often have a really weird vibe like this one. I couldn’t resist adding some black cats and writing a limerick.

St. Patrick’s Day wouldn’t be complete with a few Irish Kitty Limericks