St. Patrick’s Day
March 16, 2011 by Chip Wood
Sure an’ begorrah, this is the week when everyone is Irish, at least for a day.
Yes, tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. Or, as they say in Celtic, Lá Fhéile Pádraig. It’s the annual feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who is generally credited with bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. Oh, and in the process, driving all the snakes out of the country.
To this day, there are no snakes there. And the shamrock, whose three parts helped St. Patrick teach the Irish about the Trinity, has become a worldwide symbol of the country.
Although St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland (as well as on the Caribbean island of Montserrat), the most enthusiastic celebrations each year occur in the United States. In Chicago, the river is died green for the day. Massive parades are held in New York City, Savannah, Ga., and many other cities. Green beer becomes the drink of the day—and night.
So I hope you will wear something green tomorrow. And enjoy a pint o’ Murphy’s, Beamish, Smithwick’s, Harp or Guinness. Or an Irish whiskey, Irish coffee or Irish cream.
May the luck of the Irish be with you all year long. As a favorite poem says:
“May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
–Chip Wood
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