Many people who immigrated to the United States have come from
Ireland. More than one- half of the soldiers who fought in the
Revolutionary War had Irish ancestors. Today, it is said, Irish
descendants in the United States put on a noisier and bigger St.
Patrick's Day celebration than the people in Ireland. Every year
on March 17 or the preceding Saturday, cities with a large
population of Irish Americans have parades. Green is one of the
national colors of Ireland and also one of the signs of spring.
Green stripes are painted on the streets where the parade will
travel. People wear green shirts, ties, hair ribbons and hats.
Many American bars even serve green beer on that day!
Just like many other holidays in the United States, St.
Patrick's Day has its origins in ancient times. A young boy named
Patrick lived in the British Isles, a land that had been invaded
and conquered first by the Romans and then by Germanic tribes.
Patrick was captured and taken as a slave from the British Isles
to what is now Ireland. He lived there for several years herding
sheep. He was a religious boy and he prayed that he would
someday return to his homeland.
Legend has it that one night while he was praying, a voice
told him to escape from the farm, and find a ship that was
waiting for him two hundred miles away. Patrick got
to the ship, sailed to Europe, and disembarked in what is now
probably France. He led several of the ship's crew through a
dangerous forest, praying all the time. Neither Patrick nor any
member of his crew was captured. When some of the men were about
to die of starvation, wild animals appeared for them to eat.
Events such as these appeared to be miracles and gave rise to
later legends surrounding Patrick.
At home, Patrick felt that he was called by God to perform an
important mission. He believed it was his duty to go back to
Ireland and convert the Celtic people to the Christian religion.
Patrick arrived in Ireland and became a missionary, travelling
from village to village and talking about his faith. Once,
several members of a tribe approached Patrick and told him that
they found it difficult to understand and believe in the Holy
Trinity. Patrick thought a moment, then stooped down and picked
one of the plentiful shamrocks growing wild around Ireland.
"Here are three leaves," he said, "yet it is one
plant. Imagine the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as each of
these leaves. Here they are, yet they are one plant." The
tribesmen understood, because Patrick had used a familiar object
to explain. From that time on, the shamrock has been a revered
symbol of Ireland.
Stories of Saint Patrick, for by then he was a saint, reached
far and wide. His most famous feat is forcing the snakes out of
the entire country of Ireland. Even though there are many
different stories about how he accomplished such a task, it is
probably not true.
St. Patrick died on March 17 and the Irish people set aside
the day to mourn. He became the patron saint of Ireland. Mourning
turned to commemorating him and celebrating his life. Americans
have inherited this custom. On St. Patrick's Day in the United
States, millions of people celebrate whether they are Irish or
not!
The Leprechaun The leprechaun is a
tiny elf connected with St. Patrick's Day. The word
'leprechaun' is from a mixture of 'luchorpan' or 'small
person' and a word meaning 'one-shoemaker.' As a St.
Patrick's Day symbol, the leprechaun is a smiling, merry
little elf. However, legend tells us that he is always
grumpy, untrustworthy and very tricky. In ancient myths,
the leprechaun guards a hidden pot of gold which humans
try to find but without success. As one story goes, an
Irishman caught a leprechaun, managed to make him reveal
which tree his pot of gold was buried under. The Irishman
tied a red handkerchief around the trunk of it so he
would remember the location when he went away to find a
shovel. When he returned, he found that the leprechaun
had tied a red handkerchief exactly like his own around
every other tree in the forest!
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May the road rise up to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand. |
An Irish blessing |