Kiss the blarney stone and toast your friends with a frosty mug of green beer. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, a time when everyone is Irish! Originally a religious holiday, March 17 is now predominately a day for parades and parties around the globe, In Ireland however, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that the pubs were allowed to open on this sacred day. Despite the merriment now associated with this early spring holiday, its history is rather solemn and sad.
St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain during the fifth century to a wealthy Christian family. At age 16, Irish raiders kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. Held for over four years on the Irish coast, he awakened from an inspired dream one night convinced that his destiny was to flee his bondage and return to his native land. Successful in his escape, he traveled to Gaul to study for the priesthood, believing that God had delivered him to safety. In 432 God again spoke directly to Patrick, instructing him to return to Ireland and convert the country of pagans and polytheists to Christianity. Folk lore has it that he used a shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the Irish, which explains why the three-leaf clover continues yet today to be a symbol of the holiday.
The leprechaun and the blarney stone also decorate St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and have interesting histories. According to the Blarney Castle, the blarney stone, found atop the castle’s tower, bestows those who kiss it with the gift of eloquence. Kiss the stone and you will never again be at a loss for words! It even seems to work when a surrogate rock is carried into a pub during a St. Paddy’s celebration. Hoist an ale, kiss the stone, and speak blarney into the wee hours!
Perhaps the magical spirit of this joy-filled holiday can be attributed to the mischievous Leprechaun. To guard his pot of gold from looters the wily Leprechaun creates a distraction to make his captors look away for a moment, and thus he facilitates his escape. St. Patrick’s Day provides a much needed distraction and escape for us all. Regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity, everyone loves to celebrate the holiday with the wearing of green. Who can resist consuming a plate of corn beef and cabbage as Irish-American tradition dictates?
St. Patrick’s Day is a bright spot at the end of a dull winter. Don’t let it pass this year without paying it proper homage. Notice its religious significance, appreciate the inclusive nature of everyone being Irish for a day, and celebrate it with the lightness of spirit that it is intended to evoke. Kick up your heels and join in the jigs and reels. Forget your troubles for a moment, but don’t forget to wear green, and allow yourself to enjoy the luck of the Irish!