What do you know about St. Patrick?

The rich Irish tradition of storytelling has left us with a wealth of mythology about the patron saint of Ireland and his many accomplishments. We’ve heard that he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. See what you know about St. Patrick’s life by taking this brief quiz.

1. At age 16, St. Patrick was captured by raiders who attacked his parents’ estate. He was taken from Britain to Ireland. How many years did he spend in captivity?

1. Four
2. Fifteen
3. Six
4. Ten

2. What did Patrick do while he was imprisoned?

1. He was a houseboy
2. He was a shepherd
3. He was a shipbuilder
4. He was a musician

3. What do historians believe the circle that St. Patrick reportedly superimposed on the Christian cross (to create the Celtic cross) represented?

1. Eternity
2. The sun
3. The moon
4. Any of the above

4. St. Patrick’s lore says that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Some believe there is a different explanation for the lack of snakes in Ireland. What is it?

1. The acidity of Irish soil
2. The last ice age
3. Grasses that secrete an oil snakes dislike
4. Very aggressive birds

If you need help with the answers – or would like to discuss the stories you’re hearing about the economy – please give us a call.

Answers:

1. C.  Six years
2. B.  He was a shepherd and spent most of his time alone in the wild.
3. D.  Any of the above. No one is sure why the circle was put there, although many believe it represented a powerful pagan symbol which might have been either the moon or the sun.
4. B.  Scientists believe that the most recent ice age and the lack of a land bridge to Ireland, once the land had thawed, explain the lack of snakes in Ireland.

Sources:

www.history.com/topics/who-was-saint-patrick

www.news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080313-snakes-ireland.html

www.celtarts.com/celtic.htm

The above material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance.

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