Saint Patrick Day Traditions
Feb 17, 2011 Kimberly Napier
There have been many traditions that have formed over the years when celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. They vary from people wearing a shamrock, or wearing green to looking for leprechauns.
SHAMROCK
There is a legend that Saint Partick used a three-leaf shamrock to explain the Trinity. St. Patrick used the shamrock to show how the Father, the Son and the Holly Spirit can all exist separately; however, they are also a whole entity. Followers of Saint Patrick starting wearing the shamrock on his feast day and it has spread around the world.
LEPRECHAUNS
It is legendary that leprechauns guard pots of gold, however, what do these little people look like? Is it possible to get their pot of gold? Leprechauns look like little old men and dress like a shoemaker. They often wear a cocked hat and a leather apron. They are usually unfriendly and aloof, the better to protect their gold. Traditionally, they are thought to live alone and pass their time repairing or creating shoes for the fairies.
It is said that to capture a leprechaun, a person just needs to listen for the hammering of his shoe making. Once that they are captured it is possible to persuade them to give up their pot of gold; however, if the person who captured the leprechaun takes their eyes off of the leprechaun, it might just disappear.
WEARING OF THE GREEN
Read on
It is believed that school childen began the wearing of the green on Saint Patrick's Day. It is the color or spring, and connected with hope, nature and shamrocks.
Historically green has been used in the Irish revolutionaries flags. In 1919 it was adopted as one of the three colors to be used in Ireland's official flag.
Another reason for wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is that Ireland is called the Emerald Island due to the natural, lush greenery on the Island. Ireland is known as one of the only places on the earth were 40 different shades of green can be found.
FOOD
Many people believe that Corned beef and potatoes are a traditional feast day food in Ireland; however, that was a tradition that was brought to the United States and was spread from there. Traditionally in Ireland on feast day they will have roasted chicken.
LUCK OF THE IRISH
Many people look for ways to find luck on Saint Patrick's Day. If someone is truly interested in finding luck they could try the following:
1. Find a four-leaf clover. These are suppose to bring good-luck to their finder.
2. Wear green. This will help the wearer to keep from being pinched.
3. Kiss the Blarney Stone.
4. Catch a leprechaun, if possible, and do not let him out of sight.
Copyright Kimberly Napier. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
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Friday, February 25, 2011
Saint Patrick Day Traditions
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