Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated every year on March 17, is a holiday honoring Saint Patrick, the missionary credited with converting the Irish to Christianity in the A.D. 400s. Saint Patrick's real name was Maewyn Succat. For his first 16 years, Maewyn lived a normal life as the son of a wealthy landowner and magistrate in Britain.

At 16, Maewyn was captured and sold into slavery by a group of pirates who raided his village. After six years of herding sheep, Maewyn escaped, went to France and became a priest, adopting the name Patrick.

During his training, Patrick discovered that his calling was to convert Irish pagans to Christianity. He returned to Ireland, established monasteries across the country, set up schools and churches, and converted many with his winning personality. Patrick carried on a very successful mission for thirty years. When he died on March 17, that day was commemorated as St. Patrick's Day.

Originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. In America, in fact, St. Patrick's Day is basically a time when everyone becomes Irish, wears green and goes out to party.







Fun Facts
Did you know...

That green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because it's the color of spring?






That the shamrock is a traditional symbol because Saint Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to represent how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit could exist as separate elements in the same entity?





That the first St. Patrick's Day in America was celebrated in Boston in 1737?
(Ok, so this is the Chicago River dyed green, but I couldn't find any suitable images for Boston!)





That the following things on St. Patrick's Day will bring you good luck? Finding a four-leaf clover, wearing green and kissing the Blarney Stone.

(all above text obtained from Care2.com)

Irish Recipe

In honor of St. Patrick's Day you may want to make Colcannon, otherwise known as "Smashed Potatoes"!
Ingredients :
2 cups - Green cabbage, shredded
2 cups - Mashed potatoes
1/4 cup - Green onions, sliced
1/8 tsp - Pepper
Butter or margarine
Parsley

Preparation :
Heat 1/2-inch water to boiling. Stir in cabbage, cover and heat to boiling. Cook 5 minutes, drain. Prepare mashed potatoes, fold in cabbage, onions and pepper. Dot with butter, sprinkle with parsley. Serves 4.

Irish Sayings

The Irish are famous for their sayings. Some are more like well wishing prayers:

And others are funny despite their resemblance to appeals/prayers to God! These next two sayings are my favorite. I've heard them before and some years ago I posted this first one above my desk at work.

May those who love us, love us
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping!

May you be in
Heaven a half hour before the
Devil knows you're dead!

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

So, to all my loved ones out there:
"May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future!"