St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years (Irish exaggeration). In Ireland, it’s pretty much a somber affair. That’s why St. Patrick’s Day is really an AMERICAN holiday.
Here’s why: The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place NOT in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. Basically, they were thumbing their noses at their English overseers. Showing their independence with Irish flair.
Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, such as the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.
Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.
Catching a leprechaun
A leprechaun is an Irish fairy, with the name itself derived from "Luchorpan," meaning "little body." Full grown, they are said to stand about two feet tall, three at the most.
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According to legend, they are unfriendly, live alone, and scowl often. They are shoemakers by trade, wearing a cocked hat and a leather apron. A leprechaun may possess a pot of gold, which is sometimes believed to be at the end of a rainbow. Because leprechauns work hard at finding new hiding places for their gold they are just as hard to locate as the gold. Legend has it that they carry two coins with them. One is magical and replenishes the second one when they give it away. The second one turns to stone or sand as soon as the leprechaun is out of sight.
Those trying to capture a leprechaun and his gold are advised to listen for the sound of a shoemaker's hammer. When caught, the leprechaun must reveal the whereabouts of his pot of gold. However, to keep custody of the leprechaun, you must never take your eyes of of him. He will try to trick you into looking away, and if you do ... poof, he vanishes.
And to help you if you're called upon to make a toast, here's a few samples:
May the leprechauns be near you, To spread luck along your way. And may all the Irish angels, Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day.
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.
An Irishman is never drunk as long as He can hold onto one blade of grass and not Fall off the face of the earth.
Happy St. Patrick's Day
We at The Thurber Brigade have been sending out this speech to friends and posting it on FaceBook for decades and decided to finally share it via the blog. We hope you have gained some insight into this great American holiday and enjoyed the pictures. Now go out and grab a Guinness (we're partial to Smithwick's instead) and celebrate. Don't forget to watch the fight scene in "The Quiet Man." Another great St. Pat's tradition.
