So this post is for Kimmy. As I know that she will be enjoying today and all the Irish it will bring, I decided to post a little something Irish, just for her. Now, I am not Irish. Not close really. My heritage is almost completely made up of half German and half English. My father's family, the Arkwright's are quite common in parts of England. My mother's family, the Haus', are quite common in German. My great-maternal grandparents actually came over on the boat. So my knowledge of the Irish is lacking. So I did a little poking around and well...here's to you Kimmy and all the Irish that is in you (and what little is also in my son).
The Legend of The Shamrock
The trefoil or Shamrock, at one time called the "Seamroy", symbolizes the cross and blessed trinity. Before the Christian era it was a sacred plant of the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad.
The well known legend of the Shamrock connects it definitely to St. Patrick and his teaching.
Preaching in the open air on the doctrine of the trinity, he is said to have illustrated the existence of the Three in One by plucking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his congregation. The legend of the shamrock is also connected with that of the banishment of the serpent tribe from Ireland by a tradition that snakes are never seen on trefoil and that it is a remedy against the stings of snakes and scorpions.
The trefoil in Arabia is called shamrakh and was sacred in Iran as an emblem of the Persian triads. The trefoil, as noted above, being a sacred plant among the Druids, and three being a mystical number in the Celtic religion as well as all others, it is probable that St. Patrick must have been aware of the significance of his illustration.
A Little Irish Trivia
Over 40% of the United States Presidents had Irish ancestors.
Irish & Irish-Americans laid the ground work for America's Bridges, Tunnels, and Subways. Many lost their lives as Sandhogs.
70 Million people, worldwide, can claim Irish ancestry.
St. Patrick's Day, the way we celebrate it, is more American than Irish. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday-shops and businesses are closed to give everyone a day off to be spent with family and friends.
It is said there are more Americans of Irish descent in America than there are Irishmen in Ireland. Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day with such fun and wild abandon that many people in Ireland tune in their televisions to watch celebrations and parades in the U.S..
*Brought to you by the Emerald Society NYCT
A Few Irish Quotes and Toasts
May the dust from your wagon wheels blind the eyes of your enemies.
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you.
And all that your heart may desire.
May your troubles be as few and far between
As my grandmother's teeth.
May you work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt, and
Dance like no one is watching.
Here's to you and here's to me
I pray that friends we'll always be,
But if by chance we disagree,
The heck with you and here's to me!
May you live forever
And may the last words you hear be mine!
There are good ships, and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships are friendships,
And may they always be.
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