HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!!

 

Facts about St. Patrick's Day Holiday

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
   
• In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
   
• Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Facts about Saint Patrick

• St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

Facts about the Irish

• 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
• Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
    
• The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
   
• The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
   
• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Facts about Clovers

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
   
• One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
       
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
   

FROM:http://holidays.kaboose.com/saint-patricks-day/quick_facts.html

St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17th. It honors Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, who was executed on March 17, about A.D. 461.

Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is credited with establishing 300 churches in Ireland and of having converted most of the population to Christianity. Patrick was born in Great Britain to a wealthy Alderman and Christian. At 16 Patrick was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. During his captivity as a shepherd, he dedicated himself to his religion. He managed to escape captivity six years, later. Returning to England he believed it was his responsibility to bring Christianity to the Irish. He studied in the monastery of Le'rins off the south east coast of France and in Auxerre, France with Saint Germanius, a French bishop. Pope Celestine I later sent Patrick to Ireland. He was an Apostle to the Irish.

The legends about Saint Patrick are what most people associate with St. Patrick's Day. It is said he used the shamrock to explain the concept of the holy trinity to the Irish. Showing them the three leafed clover he explained that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were three parts of the same divinity. Many people believe this is how shamrocks came to be identified with St. Patrick as well as Ireland, becoming it's national symbol. He is also said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland.

Shamrocks, Leprechauns, Irish jigs, bag pipes, green beer,

and pots of gold at the end of the rainbow

are all symbols of the Holiday. A four leaf clover is considered to be a sign of good luck. Corn Beef and Cabbage is generally the meal of choice. Religious services may also, be observed to commemorate the day.

MORE FROM:http://sunniebunniezz.com/holiday/stpatday.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/index.htm

What is a leprechaun?

The leprechaun is a character of Irish Mythology. He is about 2'6" (75cm) tall. He is very rich but extremely tricky and if you catch one don't take your eyes off him, or he will disappear! He is a very slick talker and loves a bit of fun.

Where does he live?

He lives in a secluded spot, usually a small hole in the ground, where he has a comfortable little home.
READ MORE HERE:
http://www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/irish-folklore-mythology/the-leprechaun/





       

 IRISH SUPERSTITIONS

Moon, moon tell unto me,
When my true love I shall see?

What fine clothes am I to wear?
How many children will I bear?

For if my love comes not to me,
Dark and dismal my life will be.

This verse, recited by a maiden as she gathered special herbs by the light of the first full moon of the new year, could reveal a future husband and cause the girl to have a true dream about the man--if she first complied with certain requirements. With a black-handled knife she had to cut out three pieces of earth, bring them home, tie them in her left stocking, and secure the bundle with her right garter. The completed package then had to be placed upon her pillow.

When yawning, make the sign of the cross instantly over your mouth, or the evil spirit will make a rush down and take up his abode with you.

It is unlucky to offer your right hand in salutation, for thee is an old say, "A curse with the left hand to those we hate, but the right hand to those we honor."

If the palm of your hand itches you will be getting money; if the elbow, you will be changing beds.

Breaking a mirror brought seven years of bad luck, while two people washing hands in the same basin at the same time courted disaster. 

READ MORE HERE: http://germaniscool.com/stpat.htm