Top ‘o’ the mornin’ to ya and happy St. Patrick’s Day!
It’s that special day when we all don our blue and red clothing. “Wait, what?” you say, “St. Patrick’s day is ALL about GREEN!” And you are right, but did you know that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who the holiday is in honor of, had an official color and it was blue? So why do Americans wear green, drink green beverages, and use excessive amounts of dye to make rivers green on St. Patrick’s Day? Well, it is sort of a combination of reasons. First, Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle due to its lush green landscape, so it seems only natural to associate this celebration of Irish culture with this color. Second, green was introduced into St. Patrick’s Day festivities in the 18th century when the shamrock became a national symbol of Ireland. Also, legend has it that you should wear green because it makes you invisible to the Irish fairies, Leprechauns, who will pinch you if they can see you. However, early accounts of the mythical Leprechauns feature these bearded little men wearing red not the traditional green.
A few more fun facts…
Have you ever heard of a Clurichaun? They are the lesser know cousins of Leprechauns. Check out this link for ways to differentiate a Clurichaun from a Leprechaun. (Apparently, knowing the difference will prevent you from offending a Leprechaun.)
Speaking of difference, do you know the difference between a shamrock and a clover? Well, it’s kinda like the difference between a square and a rectangle. A clover must have 3 leaves to be considered a shamrock, if it has more or less it’s just a clover. So all shamrocks are clovers but not all clovers are shamrocks. Also, the shamrock was used by St. Patrick as a tool for teaching the 3 parts of the trinity. So what’s up with four-leafed clovers? Well, they are rare and therefore considered lucky.
Finally, many Americans may be enjoying a meal of corned beef and cabbage tonight in honor of the holiday. This dish is in fact an American innovation. The traditional Irish meal was ham/bacon and cabbage. Here’s an informative article about the history of corned beef and the Irish-American immigrants.
An Irish Blessing…
May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
That each day bring you bright, happy hours,
That stay with you all the year long.
St. Patrick’s Day, like many holidays, is a mix of history, tradition, and legend. We hope you have enjoyed learning a few fun tidbits about it today. Be sure to check out our Holiday Resource Packet on St. Patrick’s Day for “pot o’ gold” of interesting facts about this holiday. You’ll find book recommendations, movie suggestions, helpful links, and more! SLOCA families have access to it in the Parent Portal under Resources/Holiday Resources.
Not a SLOCA family and feeling a little green with envy? Not to worry – this resource is available for purchase on our Wisdom Wonder site. Click HERE for access to this superlative resource.
And whether you find gold at the end of the rainbow today or not, may you have a lovely Wednesday!
