Folklore tells us St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, driving the snakes out of the Emerald Isle. Well, the patron saint part is correct, but the snake bit, not so much.

St. Patrick was born to wealthy parents in Britain around the end of the fourth century and early fifth century. His father’s role as a Christian deacon is not enough to convince some historians that is why the patron saint chose the same profession. A tax incentive could also have let him to the church, according to History.com

Irish raiders who assailed the family’s estate took prisoner St. Patrick, 16, and transported him to Ireland where he was held captive and became a shepherd in either County Antrim or County Mayo, Ireland, according to Biography.com.

During his detention, St. Patrick turned to the church and Christianity for comfort.

After six years, he escaped. After hearing a voice from God request he leave Ireland, the saint walked 200 miles to the Irish coast and left for Britain. Back with his family another voice spoke to him, urging him to return to Ireland as a missionary.

His formal religious training began. After becoming a priest, he returned to Ireland with two missions, according to Biography.com. He would preach to the Christians already living in Ireland and convert the Irish.

Since he was familiar with the culture of Ireland, St. Patrick used this to convince them to join Christianity.

“He superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish, and used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity,” according to Biography.com

Mar. 17, 493 A.D. is said to be the date St. Patrick died, although some disagree with the year.