 Ah, yes! It's that time of year again to celebrate all things Irish. If you've been under a rock for a few centuries, I'm speaking of St. Patrick's Day. An annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage.
But why? St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th to honor the death of St. Patrick in Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 CE to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death in 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Some of the legends that have grown around him include that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. The Irish have celebrated Ste Patrick's Day as a religious holiday for over a 1 ,OOO years. Although not an official holiday in the United States, it is still celebrated with music, food, the color green, and of course, beer. Who doesn't love a pint or twelve? It was immigrants to the United States who transformed St. Patrick's Day into the unofficial holiday that it is today. One of the first cities to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a parade was Boston in 1737, followed by New York in 1762. One icon of the Irish holiday is the Leprechaun. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small bodied fellow' Belief in leprechauns in all likelihood stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure. On a side note, leprechauns have their own holiday on May 13. So now that you know a bit of St, Patrick's Day, here's an Irish blessing to al} and please saying it in your best Irish voice. "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction." Cheers and #QUESTIONEVERYTHING |
KWMC
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