Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Yes I am Irish on my Dad's side of the family. My Dad loved St.Patrick's Day, and used to call ALL his Irish relatives on St.Patrick's Day! I remember him being on the phone for hours. I don't follow that Family tradition, but I do follow another one. We always had an Irish meal on St.Patty's Day; Corn Beef Bisque, cooked cabbage, and potatoes. That of course is what's on the menu tonight.

Here is our Family Coat of Arms:

Here are some Poems for the Day:

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is here, you see. We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three. We'll count the leaves and look them over, And maybe find a four-leafed clover. I'll sew green buttons on my vest, Green for St. Patrick is the best. I'll wear a green hat, very high, And dance a jig--at least I'll try!

The Wearin' O' the Green

Today is the day fer the wearin' o' the green. Today is the day when the little people are seen. Today is St. Patrick's Day, so if ye'r Irish me lad, Join the celebratin' fer the grandest time ta' be had. Ya' put yer hand up in the air, the other hand on your hip. Ya' tap yer toe, ya' tap yer heel, ya' bounce yer knee a wee bit. Ya' prance 'n dance around the room, n' circle one two three. The saints be praised, I must admit, ya' all look Irish ta' me.

I'll Wear a Shamrock

St. Patrick's Day is with us, The day when all that's seen To right and left and everywhere Is green, green, green! And Irish tunes they whistle And Irish songs they sing, To-day each Irish lad walks out As proud as any king. I'll wear a four-leaf shamrock In my coat, the glad day through, For my father and my father's father are Irish And I am Irish too!

Danny

Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling, From glen to glen and on the mountainside. The summer's gone and all the leaves are falling, 'Tis you must go, 'tis you must go and I must bide ! But come you back, when summer's in the meadow, Or when the valley's hush and white with snow ! Then I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow, Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so ! And if you come, when all the flowers are dying And I am dead, as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me. And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me I simply sleep in peace until you come to me. Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so!

History of St.Patrick's Day:

(From: www.theholidayspot.com)
St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish. But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.

Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D., while the other school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place is said to be in either Scotland or Roman England. His real name was probably Maewyn Succat. Though Patricius was his Romanicized name, he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.

Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer. He was growing up as naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy along with many others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland. The was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned. This was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God. Legend says, he was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.

Finally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France. There he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain, the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training. And when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him back to Ireland to tell them about God. The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most important document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain, in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."
So he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to a kinglet here and a lawgiver there,but accepted none from any.

Indeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. Through active preaching, he made important converts even among the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times,but escaped each time. For 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion. He developed a native clergy, fostered the growth of monasticism, established dioceses, and held church councils.
Patrick's doctrine is considered orthodox and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian. Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning, a few of his writings remain extant: his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters. The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick, may date to a later period. By the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure, and the legends have continued to grow since then. There are many legends associated with St Patrick. It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity; which refers to the combination of Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hence its strong association with his day and name Legend also has that, Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland. And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.

True, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years, these legends have been inseparably combined with the facts. And together they have helped us know much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration of the day. Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years. He died on March 17, AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. Or, rather, 'be an Irish Day '. And the Irish has borne it as part of their national tradition in everywhere they populated and prospered. The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday in celebration of the Irish and Irish culture. The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy, has become entrenched as a chief symbol for this holiday, as is the shamrock, an ancient symbol for the triple goddess Brigit. It is fitting that this holiday should fall at the time of the year when the return of spring begins to seem at hand. But why the icons like the green color, the tri-leafed shamrock, the leprechaun, or the pot of gold and Blarney's stone- all came to be associated with the celebration of this Day? And what do they all mean? Click Here to learn

Happy St.Patrick’s Day!

Jen (Brennan) McLennan