The Gold at Rainbow’s End: St. Patrick, Paganism, and Celebrating Irish Heritage

We observed the holiday as many do today: by celebrating all things Irish. As far back as I can remember we marked the day with the wearing of green (so as to avoid getting pinched!), eating corned beef and cabbage, and (for the adults) drinking copious amounts of beer. We might even go to McDonald’s and get one of the Shamrock Shakes. (Disgusting, but we still wanted them.)

Saint Patrick, Druids, snakes, and popular myths: 2018

In 2012, Wild Hunt founder Jason Pitzl-Waters published an article called, “Saint Patrick, Druids, Snakes, and Popular Myths.”* To this day, it remains one of our most popular posts. Every year as March approaches, and even as March leaves, the article is read and reread and read again. With Saint Patrick’s Day coming up next Saturday, March 17, we revisit that article. “[Tomorrow] is St. Patrick’s Day, a yearly holiday celebrating Ireland’s favorite patron saint.

Saint Patrick, Druids, Snakes, and Popular Myths: 2017

[Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, so we are once again revisiting one of our most popular articles. Some conversations never go “out of vogue.” Here is the 2017 edition.]

In 2012, Wild Hunt founder Jason Pitzl-Waters published an article called, “Saint Patrick, Druids, Snakes, and Popular Myths.”* To this day, it remains one of our most popular posts. Every year as March approaches, and even as March leaves, the article is read and re-read and read again. So today, we revisit that article with updated links, information and quotes.