A Brief History of Saint Patrick (video)

TheWeekinDoubt; Merriam-Webster; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Can "St. Patty's Day" refer to St. Patrick?

The Week in Doubt

March 17th is St. Patrick's Day -- the feast day of the [Roman-British] patron saint of Ireland.

He is [blamed for] bringing Christianity to the island (and is the legendary figure said to have driven the "snakes" of Ireland into the sea).
 

Typically, a feast day of a canonized saint is only referred to by the saint's given name, in this case Patrick.
 

Nature-based wise ones killed

However, St. Patrick's Day has evolved to become more than a religious observance.

It is a secular celebration of Irish heritage and pride in the form of festivals and parades, as well as more than a few pub crawls.

Many people (not just the Irish) get into the spirit of the day by dressing in green, eating smelly corned flesh and cabbage (a tradition from Irish immigrants in America), and drinking Irish intoxicants.

The festive atmosphere has influenced partygoers to refer to the day informally by nicknames of Patrick, but one name tends to raise the hackles of many celebrants, be they Irish by heritage or just for the day. More