Faith: As St. Patrick learned, fairies and faith can go together

At this time of year, thoughts of St. Patrick and Celtic traditions come to mind. Revelers don themselves in green hats, dress in leprechaun costumes and drink green beer.

The saint would likely be amused by how his life is celebrated, or maybe not. When he was a missionary in fifth century Ireland, the early Celts believed in numerous supernatural beings who occupied and reigned over the natural world. These faiths gave rise to legends such as those of leprechauns and fairies.

The remains of the Celts can be found in modern-day France, Belgium, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Asia Minor. It is said, “If an Irishman would begin a story, an Indian could finish it.” The origin of the Celts is unknown, but some believe they originated in India or the Himalayas around 1500 BC.

The Celts said, “Never give a sword to a person who can’t dance.” They were both gentle, poetic souls and warriors. They believed spirits of ancestors and fairies were to be found in “thin places,” particularly in deaths and wakes. According to a survey conducted by Irish whiskey brand Cooley Distillery, one-third of Irish people believe leprechauns exist. The Rag Tree tradition provides yet more evidence that belief in the fairy realm lives on. People hang colored rags and bits of cloth on the branches of hawthorn trees to gain good luck or to help a sick relative or friend get well again. Rag trees are often located near holy wells and date back to pagan times.

St. Patrick encountered these ideas when he was in Ireland. Instead of dismissing them, he found a way to reach middle ground with the people. Ancient stories tell of St. Patrick’s travels with two locals who taught him the ways of the Irish people. Through these travels, St. Patrick and other missionaries blended the old ways of pre-Christian Ireland with the new values brought by Christians like Patrick. Instead of forcing Christianity on the native people of Ireland, St. Patrick gradually steered the Irish to the new monotheistic way.

As Christianity became more and more ingrained in Irish culture, legend says the old pagan gods retreated below the ground to become fairy folk. These creatures were less powerful than the pagan gods, but not by much. The Irish Catholics took great care to avoid angering the fairy folk.

Believing in fairies must not have been too far-fetched for St. Patrick. After all, Christian beliefs also include fairylike beings. In fact, the Hebrew word for “spirits” is often translated to “fairies.” In the New Testament there are more than 100 references to angels. The book of Revelations describes some highly unusual beings who might be a variety of angels — a creature like a lion, a creature like a calf, a creature like a man and a creature like a flying eagle.

In short, church fathers believed angels were spiritual beings created by God. Though Irish fairy folk don’t hold that esteem, it wasn’t a stretch for St. Patrick to oblige the ancient Celtic beliefs in an effort to convert the island to a monotheistic religion.

Christians are not alone in their belief of angels. Zorastriansim is one of the world’s oldest religions and documents the earliest belief in angels — spirits who operate in the physical world to protect, guide and inspire humanity and the spiritual world. In the Hebrew Bible, angels appeared to each of the patriarchs. Islam also believes in angels and has named several in its scriptures.

Perhaps because evidence of Celts can be found throughout Europe and into Asia Minor, the Celts adopted some of their beliefs from the Zoroastrian, Jewish and Islam traditions.

Every human culture that has existed has innumerable oral accounts and written records of fairytype creatures. India positively brims with fairy lore. American Indians believed in supernatural beings — forest dwellers — who lived in caves, not unlike the Irish leprechauns.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll conducted in 2023 found that 7 in 10 adults say they believe in angels. This is not surprising considering the prominence of fairies in arts and movies. “The Bishop’s Wife” remains a holiday favorite even 75 years after its release. I do like to think angels walk among us just like Cary Grant, as Dudley the angel, did in the movie. Though most people do believe in angels, fairies and leprechauns are not in the same category. However, they are fun to think of and imagine.

Several years ago, I started making fairy gardens just for fun. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you be like little children, you shall never enter the Kingdom of God.”

When I see or create a fairy garden, the magic of envisioning another realm puts me in touch with my inner child. I experience a “peculiar” and childlike excitement as J.R.R. Tolkien said. I’m reminded that “…faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1.) St. Patrick showed tremendous faith as he traveled Ireland. Perhaps fairies and the like helped him on his way.

Each year Zilker Botanical Gardens features a Woodland Faerie Trail from Memorial Day weekend to July. Around the city you might see likeminded people displaying fairy gardens in their front yards.

Diane Owens Prettyman is a writer and parishioner at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. She is a member of their Central Texas Interfaith Core Team, and president of the St. Catherine’s Chapter of the Daughters’ of the King.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: As St. Patrick learned, fairies and faith can go together