By Janea Brown
Lifestyles Editor
THE SUPERSTITION
It’s powerful enough to make grown women afraid of helpless black cats and make businessmen afraid to stay on the 13th floor of a hotel. Various holidays are steeped in superstution, including St. Patrick’s Day.
Although St. Patrick is one of Christianity’s most well known names, a cloud of myths and legends only obscures and adds to the mystery of his life
With St. Patrick’s Day just a few days away, the chances of seeing shamrocks are almost inevitable, but no one knows for sure how the tradition of the shamrock originated.
One theory holds that St. Patrick used the shamrock as an illustration to explain the Christian doctrine of the trinity, as an example of how the father, son and the Holy Spirit could be different parts of one being.
Whatever the origin, the shamrock has become a symbol of luck, and phrases like the “luck of the Irish” are common. This raises the question, do people still believe in luck today?
“God governs the world but to an extent leaves it to function on its own,” senior Jimmy Douglas said. “He can intervene whenever he wants to. From a human perspective that can be termed as luck.”
The idea of luck reaches much further than the shamrock into superstitious beliefs such as avoiding black cats or walking under ladders. Others believe that a broken mirror will give you bad luck, but a rabbit’s foot brings good luck. Some people kiss their dice before gambling.
“I believe that God has something to do with luck,” senior Hafeez Aziz said. “I am from Malaysia where people still practice superstitious beliefs just to make the older generation happy. For example, you might put a sharp object under the bed when someone is in labor or make sure the windows are shut at night.”
Today, many believe that the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day has been lost in such superstitions and traditions associated with the holiday. At festive parades, individuals will use the opportunity to hand out pamphlets that explain the Christian message, which St. Patrick came to preach.
THE HISTORY
If St. Patrick’s Day isn’t about the superstition, then what is it? Understanding this will not only ties us to ancient ancestors, but also to the Christian faith that Pepperdine University is founded on.
St. Patrick was kidnapped from his wealthy estate at the age of 16 and held hostage in Ireland for six years. Working as a secluded shepherd gave St. Patrick time to ponder his religion and find comfort in his faith.
It is believed that St. Patrick walked 200 miles in order to escape his kidnappers, and at that time St. Patrick is said to have heard God’s voice calling him to be a missionary in Ireland.
St. Patrick studied religion for about 15 years until he finally became a priest and later returned to Ireland as a missionary. But Patrick’s missionary tactics were unique.
Rather than trying to rid Ireland of their “pagan” rituals, St. Patrick incorporated traditional practices into Christianity. For example, he used bonfires in the celebration of Easter because the Irish commonly honored its gods with fire. St. Patrick also added the Irish symbol of the sun to the Christian symbol of the cross.
St. Patrick’s mission lasted about 30 years until his death on March 17, 460.
THE PARTY
The holiday is not only recognized in Ireland. Even Pepperdine students choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in their own way.
“Since I’m Irish, I go all out and celebrate the way I should,” sophomore Lauren Thomas said.
Other students don’t find the holiday as important. “I guess people expect me to wear green, but that’s about all,” said freshman Daniela Che, an international student from Hong Kong.
This holiday can take on an even greater significance for Pepperdine students who are fortunate enough to experience it first hand in the place where it first began. For participants in Pepperdine London Overseas Program, it is simple to travel to Belfast for the holiday.
In Belfast, there are still hardships between the Protestants and Catholics, so for many this holiday brings fear of another violent outburst.
Overall, a slight tension can be sensed in the air, but for most this holiday is a time to celebrate life. Some begin celebrating a few days before the actual holiday. It is hard to fall asleep in the hotel room because loud music vibrates from the party going on upstairs.
It is a day to celebrate their heritage and culture and to show their pride as Irish people. Not unlike the Fourth of July, it is a day to remember the past and look with hopeful expectations to the future.
Every St. Patrick’s Day the city holds a major parade in the downtown area, and it seems that everyone in the city is there. The numbers grow as spectators join the parade procession, which fills the streets with a cheering mob of green.
For the day, both sides set aside their differences and are swept away in celebration of a people that have survived countless struggles through the ages.
It is hard not to feel Irish pride, even as an American from Pepperdine University.
Not so well-known superstitions
An acorn should be carried to bring luck and ensure a long life. An acorn at the window will keep lightning out.
Amber beads, worn as a necklace, can protect against illness or cure colds.
Seeing an ambulance is very unlucky unless you pinch your nose or hold your breath until you see a black or a brown dog.
Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry as you twist the stem of an apple and recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off.
If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.
To predict the sex of a baby: Suspend a wedding band held by a piece of thread over the palm of the pregnant girl. If the ring swings in an oval or circular motion the baby will be a girl. If the ring swings in a straight line the baby will be a boy.
Spit on a new bat before using it for the first time to make it lucky.
It’s bad luck to put a hat on a bed.
Get out of bed on the same side that you get in or you will have bad luck.
If a bee enters your home, it’s a sign that you will soon have a visitor. If you kill the bee, you will have bad luck, or the visitor will be unpleasant.
A bird in the house is a sign of a death.
If a robin flies into a room through a window, death will shortly follow.
If you spill salt you will have bad luck unless you toss it over your shoulder.
March 14, 2002