St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other Christian holiday. It has more to do with the Irish diaspora and the Irish international influence than with any religious meaning. The Catholic Church designated March 17 as the official date of St. Patrick’s death, permitting a party break in the Lenten Fast (after Mass of course).
Revisionist historians found evidence that March 17 is associated with Roman pagan religious festival of Liberalia, the god Liber Pater, the god of the people or plebeians. Liber Pater meant freedom: the official day boys became men, people got drunk, insulted the rich and famous, a national rave. Over time, it was associated with the gods with no name or face. Eventually, Liber was replaced by the Roman and Greek gods Bacchus and Dionysus as the official party gods.
Why March 17 as a party day? What we were taught about Jews and Christians being persecuted may not be completely true. St. Augustin wrote in the 4th century that Christians had a duty to further the City of God and destroy the City of Man.
If you visit Rome today, its Jewish citizens say that they survived for centuries because they were not part of any Jewish or Christian groups that tried to convert pagans or each other. Were pagans trying to hide Liberalia behind a St. Patrick, or the Catholic church trying to destroy Liberalia with St. Patrick?
Educated and devout Irish do not like the public image of Irish drunks: not only to prevent Irish stereotypes, but to stop any false ideas about Catholic teaching and perpetuating pagan cult practices.
Erin go Bragh!
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