Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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Saint Patrick's Day (March 17th), is an Irish holiday honoring Saint Patrick,
the missionary credited with converting the Irish to Christianity
(in the A.D. 400's).
Saint Patrick was not actually Irish. Historical sources report that he
was born around 373 A.D., in either Scotland (near the town of Dumbarton) or
in Roman Britain (the Romans left Britain in 410 A.D.). His real name is
believed to be Maewyn Succat (he took on Patrick, or Patricus, after he
became a priest). He was kidnapped at the age of 16 by pirates and sold into
slavery in Ireland. This is no blarney!
During his 6-year captivity, he worked as a sheperd. He began to have
religious visions, and found strength in his faith. He finally escaped after
voices in one of his visions told him where he could find a getaway ship.
He went to France, where he became a priest (and later a bishop).
When he was about 60 years old, St. Patrick travelled to Ireland to spread
the Christian word. It's said that Patrick had an unusually winning
personality,(the true gift of blarney) and that helped him to win converts.
He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, as a metaphor to
explain the concept of the Trinity (father, son, holy spirit).
Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland --
that they all went into the sea and drowned. I shake my head, at the very
thought of this, even though I don't like snakes! I don't know why he would
want to do this, except that the snake was a revered pagan symbol and it
represents the driving out of the pagans...I guess!
In America, Saint Patrick's Day is a basically a time to wear green and party. The first American celebration of Saint Patrick's Day was in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. As the saying goes, on this day "everybody is Irish!" Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick's Day parades, the largest held in New York City.
Phoenix loves parades too, and love to serve their green beer!
Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.
Leprechauns are also associated with this holiday, although I'm not sure
why. Leprechauns of legend are actually mean little creatures, with the
exception of the Lucky Charms guy. They were probably added later on because
capitalists needed something cute to put on greeting cards.
Three things for good luck on Saint Patrick's Day!
1.) Finding a four-leaf clover--It doubles your luck.
2.) The wearin' of the green.
3.) Kissing the blarney stone.
Taken from my little green book of Irish Blessings - a gift from my son Erich:
Green are the hills of Ireland
And green they will always stay.
Warm are the blessings wished for you
And they'll always be that way.
May your heart be light and happy
May your smile be big and wide
And may your pockets always have
A tinkle of gold inside.
1. What River is dyed green each year on March 17th?
2. Where is "The Irish Wilderness" in America?
3. What color caps did the Black and Tans wear?
4. What is Ireland's "National Walking Stick?"
5. Who is the N.Y St. Patrick's Day Parade's Grand Marshall for 1999?
6. Name a great Movie Irish Classic!
1. San Antonio River, in Texas
2. The Ozark Mountains in Missouri
3. Pink! Just kidding! Why, GREEN...of course!
4. The Blackthorn stick
5. Why...Non other than the beautiful Mureen O'Hara!
6. "The Quiet Man", starrring John Wayne and Mureen O'Hara
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