Saint Patrick's Day
Hail Saint Patrick!
(The Grave of our Beloved Patrick)
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit! (Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!) Law leh Paw-drig suna ghit
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!” (Plural, Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! ) “Law leh Paw-drig suna yee-uv
Dia is Muire agus Padraig dhuit (God and Mary and Patrick be with you!) Dee-ah iss Mwir-eh oggus Paw-drig gwit
Sláinte! (A Toast To Good Health) Slahn-cha
Today is a celebration of the Father of Ireland and all things Irish culture, that is why we hear on this feast day, Erin Go Braugh (Air-in Go Bra) which is Gaelic for "Ireland Forever!" St. Patrick is celebrated today on the anniversary of his death and is celebrated in the U.S due to the vast amount of Irish immigrants who celebrated their heritage in defiance of anti-immigrant and anti-catholic bigotry. Legend states on Judgement Day, St. Patrick will judge the Irish. St. Patrick's name comes from the Latin for "patricius"or nobleman. March 1-17 marks Irish Language Week and is a day farming would begin in Ireland. St. Patrick himself according to legend said half of his feast will hold good weather and every day following.
Today is also the feast of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, patron Saint of Kitty Cats!
St. Patrick's Day Symbols:
Leprechauns: The word coming from luchorpán meaning "small bodied". They are seen as the tricksters of Ireland, found in Irish folklore they're based of myths of the old gods (Tuatha Dé Danann) shrinking to size when they were no longer worshiped when Christianity came to the Emerald Isle. They are also popular depictions of fairies known as “the good fairies” or “the wee people” in Ireland where fairy folklore abounds especially around Halloween which owes its origin to the Emerald Isle. Due to the leprechaun’s love for dance, they always need new shoes and are thus shoemakers. If you catch a leprechaun he can only get away by giving away his gold. The leprechaun tricks the seeker to looking at the end of the rainbow, for it's impossible to find. They are sometimes depicted with mushrooms as their homes.
Irish Flag: Green symbolizes the Catholics, Orange represents the Protestants and White represents peace between them. The Green is chosen as the color of Ireland and the Orange chosen for the followers of the Protestant Leader William of Orange.
Green: Symbolizing the faith of St. Patrick as green symbolizes Catholicism in the flag of Ireland as well as the foliage of Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle (Green Island). Many monuments and landmarks are lit green for St. Patrick's feast. Famously, the Chicago River is dyed an eco friendly green. Blue was formerly the Irish color because it was the color of the uniform for the Kingdom of Ireland's Order of Chivalry.
Clovers/Shamrocks: Used by St. Patrick to explain the mystery of the Trinity, formerly used in practices for the pagan gods and godesses of the Celts. The Clover is Ireland's National Flower, a symbol of spring and new hope. A clover is 3 or four leaved while a true shamrock is 3 leaved known as a trefoil.
Harps: An instrument of Irish importance, found often in their legends and the instrument of the fairy folk. It is sometimes depicted with a woman as a depiction of Ireland going by the name Erin. The name of Irish music sessions is céilithe (KAY-luh-huh) while the overall name for Irish gatherings is céilís (kay-lay).
Beer: Drinking occurs on this feast due to it always falling during Lent. Thus, a day was set aside to honor this great Saint in a toast. This tradition is called "the wetting of the shamrock". The shamrock is put at the bottom of a glass and consumed at the end of the drink or tossed over the shoulder for good luck.
Celtic Cross: A combination of the pagan sun with the Cross of Christ, believed to be possibly created by St. Patrick to convert the pagans. The 'St Patrick's Day Cross' was a paper celtic cross covered with ribbons with a bundle of ribbon in it's center.
Potatoes: Irish folks were the first of the European countries to grow potatoes on a large scale, the potato helped support many Irish families as do the other foods that are known as Irish on this holiday. It was the potato crisis that so devastated the Irish and caused the mass migration of the Irish to America. It’s important to note that the potato famine isn’t a true famine and it was the British government’s means of ethnic cleansing.
Shillelaghs: originate for the wood from which these clubs are made, the shillelagh forest in Wicklow, Ireland. Used in fights in ancient days, the shillelagh is a symbol of Irish strength.
Top hats, petticoats etc: When these images are seen on St. Pat's they hearken to the outfits of the Irish in Ireland and are caricatures of Irish joy. Kilts and Bagpipes, while often believed Scottish are Irish as well.
Pinching: Green made one invisible to the fairies so if someone was green-lacking and weren't protected, a pinch was a warning of a leprechaun's trick.
Kiss me I'm Irish: A reflection of the luck which comes from kissing the Blarney Stone.
Snakes and Frogs: To recall the legend of St. Patrick which is sometimes translated to venomous toads. Toads and frogs are also cherished as green animals.
Mushrooms: Used in ancient Celtic religious ceremonies for its effects. Irish Mushroom Folklore
St. Patrick's Day Cartoon (See also "Patrick, Brave Shepherd of the Emerald Isle".)
St. Patrick’s Day TV Specials (See also: The Leprechaun Franchise and The Watchers for Irish/Saint Patrick’s Day Horror)
National Symbols of Ireland
The Meaning Behind Irish Words (Some may be debated as originating with the indigenous Americans)
Autism Friendly St. Patrick's Day
The St. Patrick's Visitor Centre
Our Lady of Knock Apparition Chapel Live Stream
Difference between Scottish and Irish:
A Plenary indulgence is gained today, under the usual conditions for anyone who visits a church named for St Patrick and prays the Lord's Prayer and Apostle's Creed.
Sources: https://inirish.bitesize.irish/3624
https://sciencemadefun.net/blog/from-shamrocks-shenanigans-traditions-of-st-patricks-day/
https://learn.kegerator.com/history-of-saint-patricks-day/
https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/irish-harp.html
https://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=2707
https://archive.org/details/shamrocksharpssh0000bart/page/8/mode/2up
https://rusticandmain.com/blogs/stories/irish-claddagh-ring-meaning
https://www.infoplease.com/whats-symbolism-irish-flag
https://www.bitesize.irish/blog/everyday-irish-phrases/
https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/what-is-the-irish-for-happy-st-patricks-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatha_D%C3%A9_Danann
https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/what-is-the-irish-for-happy-st-patricks-day
https://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/are-bagpipes-irish/
https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-xpm-2006-02-03-lacressentaonline_lap-irishdance0202-story.html
https://interludepress.com/post/130720170289/whats-a-c%C3%A9il%C3%AD-and-how-do-you-pronounce-it
https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/claddagh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day.
https://thefadingyear.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/saint-patricks-day-traditions-customs-in-ireland/
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