Fact of the Day and why I dont observe Saint Patricks Day this year because today (March 17) was not a holiday: The only evidence of snakes ever being in Ireland comes from Pre-Glacier fossils, making Ireland relatively similar to New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, and Antarctica, all of which had snakes until the Ice Age glaciers. Coincidentally, snakes in the United Kingdom area cannot swim (In exception of the sea snake, which lives in the sea) unlike their other relatives from other areas. There is also no historical evidence made by humans to note snakes ever being in Ireland during the times humans settled there, so Saint Patrick really had nothing to banish because snakes werent there (unless you count the slow worm, which is a lizard and is still present in Ireland). The most probable reason for the banishing of the snakes is not to be taken literally, but symbolically as the serpent symbolism is used for Druids of that time period, as evinced on coins minted in Gaul. So banishing the snakes most likely meant ousting druidic cults by either conversion to Christianity, or, most likely, their execution. Also, Saint Patrick has become related to the Voodoo god Damballa because of his probably misguided relation to snakes. Also, Saint Patricks day is suppose to be a Holy Day of Obligation/Holiday of Obligation/Feast of Precept, where canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law states: On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lords day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body. So, by church law, youre not suppose to do much outside of church on Saint Patricks Day, or Christmas, Epiphany (Slovakia, Vatican City), The Ascension of Our Lord (Vatican City, Belgium, France), The Body and Blood of Christ (Vatican City) All Saints (Europe), Feasts of the Assumption (Netherlands), Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Argentina, Canada, Czech, England, Wales), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Argentina), Nativity of Lord (Czech), 29 June Sts. Peter & Paul (England, Wales), etc. Weirdly, in the U.S., if any of these holidays fall on a Saturday or a Monday, the precept to attend Mass on that date is abrogated, which means that it isnt a holiday and is obsolete because Sunday just happened and so Mass just happened. This year, Saint Patricks is on a Monday, so according to the United States Norm Complementary to Canon 1246, today is not a holiday. This is covered by both Eastern and Latin Catholic Churches, Chris probably being related to the former by me guessing.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 23:53:30 +0000
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