Thread by @JewWhoHasItAll

Dear Teachers,

During the busy holiday season it is important we not overlook our Christian minority in their celebration of Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh.

One of your students may be celebrating this obscure holiday this week alongside Purim!

1/17

Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh is the yahrzeit of Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh, a Christian tzaddik who died on 20 Adar II, 4221.

His yahrzeit is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar on 17 March, which this year falls on 14 Adar II until chatzot of 15 Adar II.

2/17

Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh is an especially meaningful tzaddik to the Christian inhabitants of Ireland, which has a substantial Christian minority.

3/17

Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh was enslaved by pagan pirates and was credited with introducing the Christian religion to Ireland and building schools and Christian shuls there.

4/17

Christians believe that Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh banished all snakes from the island of Ireland, much like the Pied Piper; however, modern scientists dispute this claim, since they are unable to find evidence in the fossil record that Ireland ever had snakes.

5/17

Irish Christians have a custom of celebrating Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh with tefillah at their Christian shul in the morning, and a festive seudah in the evening.

6/17

Though this yom tov falls in the middle of Christian Omer II (“Lent”), a month of traditional fasting, normal Lent restrictions are lifted in honor of the yom tov, as with Lag B’Omer.

However, there are no bonfires and no shooting of arrows on Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh.

7/17

Christian-Americans who follow Irish minhagim may also observe the holiday of Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh with a street parade of other Irish-Christian families, perhaps organized by a local Christian shul that davens according to Nusach Irlandi.

8/17

Some cities with large populations of Irish-Christians, like Chicago, even indulge them by granting petitions to dye their rivers green for Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh.

9/17

Among Christian-Americans of Irish origin, it is customary to celebrate Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh by eating traditional Irish-American dishes such as pickled brisket, boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage, and a special yeast-free, chemically leavened bread.

10/17

On Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh it is traditional to drink copious amounts of Irish beer, which has a special harp-shaped hechsher to indicate it is kosher for yom tov.

11/17

Some beers may be tinted green in honor of the yom tov.

There is no obligation to drink until you no longer recognize the name of St. Patrick Ha’Kadosh.

12/17

Even though yellow and white are the traditional colors of Christianity, many Christians have a custom of wearing green to mark the holiday of Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh.

12/17

They believe wearing green is a way of making themselves invisible to playful green-clad elves called Leper-cons, which pinch anyone who has not shielded themselves with green attire.

Some take it upon themselves to do the pinching, in gross violation of negiyah consent.

13/17

Leper-cons are believed to be ill-tempered fairies who mend the shoes of other fairies.

Christians believe that Leper-cons keep stashes of golden coins whose location is marked by a rainbow.

14/17

Another motif of Yom Saint Patrick Ha’Kadosh is a clover with three leaves, which was considered by early Irish people to be a sacred symbol of the arrival of spring.

15/17

Leper-cons and clovers are elements of traditional Celtic and Christian religions and are therefore not considered appropriate motifs for #PublicSchool observances.

16/17

However, the color green, harps, and rainbows are acceptable secular motifs for #PublicSchool use, in classrooms where teachers may wish to teach their students about this minority holiday.

Thank you for all your hard work and have a joyous and safe Purim!

17/17

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