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Today's generation has its heroes, but the heroes of Celtic legend have never grown old. According to Dr. Lisa Weston, professor of English, they were an enterprising group who left legends in their wake.

Saint Patrick comes easily to mind. Despite the modern associations of green beer, shamrocks, and probably leprechauns, there is more to the real Patrick.

"There is a historical Saint Patrick, who was a very early missionary to the Irish," Weston says. "He actually started out his life as a kidnapped and enslaved nobleman. He was, legend tells us, found by slavers on the coast one day and taken over to Ireland and enslaved, then put in charge of looking after cattle."

But Patrick wasn't about to stay in such dire circumstances. "He escaped, came back to Britain, came back to Christian realms, and eventually was called to go back to Ireland, to convert the people who had enslaved him. At which point he of course drove all the dragons, serpents, and everything else — all the snakes — out of Ireland ... in the back seat of his RV, no doubt," Weston quips.

Saint Patrick isn't the only patron saint to grace the Celtic realms. During roughly the same time period, there was Saint Bridget of Kildare.

"Saint Brigid was a feisty woman with a lovely convent, known for its eternal flame which existed down to the time of Cromwell, who eventually put it out," Weston says. "Her convent became a model for how to run a convent with both male and female houses in it."

Among the folklore traditions associated with Brigid is the following: one day she was doing her laundry and was hanging up the clothes. When she ran out of clothes line, she managed to hang her cloak upon a sun beam, which was the perfect place for it to dry.

Brigid is also associated with handicrafts, including a cross woven from rushes that brings good luck and safety.

"It’s supposed to keep your barn safe from fire and earthquakes. So we probably need those in California," smiles Weston.

Back in Whales, the patron saint is Saint David, who was a bishop early on in the church. Saint David’s feast day is the first of March and traditionally celebrated by wearing one of the emblems of Whales on your person.

"For men, unfortunately, this tends to be a leek, which gives you a terrible smell of onion product," Weston says. "Women, however, may substitute in the daffodil, which is much more fragrant. I would suggest the daffodil buttonhole rather than the leek buttonhole."

In the Highlands of Scotland, the patron saint is Columba, the missionary who took the word of God to the Picts. He founded a monastery at Iona and was known as a miracle worker. Nature is very much associated with his legends, which have him preaching to animals.

Other saints of the British Isles include Saint Andrew, who is actually the official patron saint of all of Scotland. The apostle is known for his voyages and therefore adopted easily by sea-faring people.

And, of course, who could forget Saint George, patron saint of England — even though he never set foot in England.

"But he does have a dragon, so one takes him," Weston says.

Legend says that George bested a venemous beast that was terrorizing the people of Silene, making him one of the most memorable champions of the Celtic realms. But all the patron saints have their place as heroes in the annals of history — as men and women who held standards of integrity during difficult times.

 

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