AI Generated Image: catholic priest in a hellish fiery scene with a bible and wooden cross in hand, in contrast surrounded by green four leaf clovers, bold impressionism

The Disturbing Truth About St. Patrick’s Day and Its Brutal History

Yeah, let me just ruin this one for you too

5 min readApr 13, 2023

I have always had a very special kind of disdain for St. Patrick’s Day, and while I loathe it for the most shallow and curmudgeonly reasons, it’s led me to dig deeper into the holiday’s tainted history, and how it’s become a vicious mockery of a culture and people who deserve much better.

March 17th. Mark your calendars, hide your wives. Donning green clothing, guzzling green beer, and stumbling around town in search of leprechaun-endorsed pots of gold, we all know the average American’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is a garish display of debauchery, and a troubling perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, but is that it?

Digging into the dark history of St. Patrick’s Day, we uncover some unsettling truths. St. Patrick himself, a figure often celebrated for his missionary work, played a key role in the Catholic Church’s campaign to eradicate paganism in Ireland. As a result, the non-Christian population was persecuted and subjected to horrific acts of violence. St. Patrick and his followers committed crimes against the pagans, such as forced conversions, destruction of sacred sites, and execution of those who refused to abandon their beliefs.

This brutal campaign against the pagans led to the loss of a beautiful and thriving culture. Ireland’s pagan traditions were steeped in rich mythology, art, and spirituality, and the forced conversions by St. Patrick and his followers stripped away these elements of Irish heritage. The devastation caused by this religious crusade is a harrowing chapter in Ireland’s history that often goes unacknowledged in contemporary St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, and would likely qualify as cultural genocide by modern standards.

The Catholic Church’s campaign in Ireland was part of a broader strategy to spread Christianity throughout Europe and beyond. Pope Celestine I commissioned St. Patrick to convert the Irish population and during this era the Church was known to use various methods to establish its dominance over other religious practices, including the use of violence and coercion. Other regions, such as the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Europe, experienced similar campaigns of forced conversion and suppression of non-Christian beliefs. The Church’s actions in Ireland were part of a larger pattern of religious imperialism that sought to eradicate alternative spiritual systems.

In contrast to the Catholic Church’s brutal tactics, paganism was generally a more tolerant and diverse belief system. Pagan cultures were characterized by their acceptance of multiple deities, nature worship, and diverse rituals. There was no centralized authority, such as the Catholic Church, imposing a single dogma or orthodoxy. This difference highlights the stark contrast between the inclusive and open nature of paganism and the hierarchical, dogmatic approach of the Church.

Christian historians have often been accused of whitewashing the history of St. Patrick’s mission in Ireland, glossing over the violent and coercive aspects of the conversion process. By framing St. Patrick as a benevolent, peaceful missionary who brought Christianity to the Irish people, they downplay the negative impact his actions had on Ireland’s pagan heritage. This selective retelling of history serves to validate the Church’s actions and perpetuates a sanitized narrative that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day without acknowledging the cultural devastation it represents.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, it’s just an excuse for people to get drunk and act foolish.” — Colin Farrell, Irish actor.

Centuries later, the story of Irish immigrants in America is one of hardship and perseverance, with St. Patrick’s Day playing a troubling role in their struggle. Early Irish immigrants, escaping the devastating effects of the Great Famine and political unrest, arrived in America only to face discrimination and hostility. As they attempted to assert their identity and celebrate their heritage, St. Patrick’s Day was often hijacked by those who sought to mock and demean them, perpetuating stereotypes of drunkenness and disorderly conduct. This exploitation of the holiday served to further marginalize and oppress the Irish immigrant community, and reverberates throughout our modern-day celebrations.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “This Side of Paradise,” a scene depicting a cruel mockery of the Irish during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration highlights the deep-rooted prejudice against the Irish. The protagonist, Amory Blaine, attends a party where the guests make derogatory jokes and poke fun at Irish culture. The passage reads:

“They strut and fret in their last borrowed finery, Their hour upon the stage of mimicry, At midnight to the pabulum of a new day, To dance the St. Vitus’ jig of Saint Patrick’s Day.”

This literary reference serves as a reminder that the holiday has long been a source of derision and mockery for the Irish people, even in the early 20th century.

Furthermore, the offensive imagery and stereotypes that permeate St. Patrick’s Day events are appalling. The caricatures of Irish drunkards and barmaids perpetuate harmful stereotypes and ignore the diverse and complex nature of Irish culture. Not to mention all the people who claim Irish heritage without knowing a bodhrán from a hurling stick (did I mention I’m not Irish?).

And if you didn’t think it was bad enough to mock an entire culture when they’re down, consider the countless cheap companies who shamelessly chase profits selling throw-away paraphernalia, trivializing Irish culture and generating tons of unnecessary waste. From shamrock-shaped sunglasses to leprechaun hats, these products perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to environmental degradation.

“It’s about time we stopped celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the one day a year when everyone pretends to be Irish and drinks too much.” — Ed Byrne, Irish comedian.

You’re probably not going to stop celebrating St. Patrick’s day just because you read this, and I’m not even sure if that would be the right thing to do. Maybe you could strive for something more authentic and respectful at least. But now when you do celebrate St. Patrick’s Day you’ll at least know that, in essence, you’re mocking a people who were persecuted and robbed of their culture, and rubbing their faces in it. I just ask that you think about how that might look in any other context.

Here’s the sauce:

The Disturbing Truth About St. Patrick’s Day and Its Brutal History

Yeah, let me just ruin this one for you too

Written by Three raccoons in a spacesuit