What Are the Traditions of St. Patrick's Day?

There are many traditions and symbols associated with St. Patrick's Day and Ireland. Here are a handful of the most popular practices. Shamrock The shamrock as symbol of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day is partly due to the natural abundance of clover plants in the country, but largely due to its strong association with Christianity. According to Robert Mahony, Professor of English and member of the Center for Irish Studies at Catholic University, legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to visually illustrate the concept of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) when trying to convert polytheistic pagans to Christianity. "A clover is one plant with three leaves, but the three leaves are necessary to make it [complete]," explains Prof. Mahony. "[In Christianity,] God is three persons, but it's not the same as three gods." The simple analogy is thought to have helped non-Christians understand a fundamental element of the Christian religion, facilitating conversion. It was through the retelling of this story that the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick and Ireland's conversion to Christianity. As a result, the shamrock is a widely used to commemorate Saint Patrick's Day, and in modern times has been appropriated by secular institutions as a symbol for the Irish. Four-Leaf Clover Although clovers are most often found in nature with three leaves, rare four-leaf clovers do exist. Finding one is thought to bring someone extreme luck. The folklore for four-leaf clovers differs from that of the Shamrock due to the fact that it has no religious allusions associated with it. It is believed that each leaf of a four-leaf clover represents something different: first is hope, the second is faith, the third is love, and the fourth is happiness. Leprechauns Just what does a mythical leprechaun look like and why are they so special? A leprechaun looks like a little old man and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun's personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by mending the shoes of Irish fairies. According to St. Patrick's Day: Parades, Shamrocks, and Leprechauns by Elaine Landau, the legend is that the fairies pay the leprechauns for their work with golden coins, which the "little people" collect in large pots--the famous "pots of gold" often associated with leprechauns. If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he's hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him. Green So why do we all wear green? Probably because you'll be pinched if you don't! School children started this tradition. Green is also the color of spring, the shamrock, and is connected with hope and nature. Historically, green has been a color used in the flags of several revolutionary groups in Ireland and as a result it appears in the official tri-color country flag, adopted in 1919. In addition to that, Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle" due to the lush natural greenery found on the island. Says Prof. Mahony, "One of the things that strikes people all the time is how Ireland is incredibly green--it's very far north, but it doesn't get frozen. When people say that 'Ireland has 40 shades of green,' they are right!" The luck of the Irish Want to be lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Follow this advice: 1. Find a four-leaf clover. 2. Wear green (so you don't get pinched). 3. Kiss the blarney stone. 4. Catch a Leprechaun if you can. In honor of the festivities we leave you with this Irish blessing: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!

Who was Saint Patrick?

Saint Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. Although he was not born Irish, he has become an important part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland in the 5th century. It is believed that Patrick was born in the late 4th century A.D., but there are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. According to some historians, he was born about 390 A.D., but other historians say it was about 373 AD. Some historians believe that he was born in Scotland, and others believe it was Roman England. Many of the stories traditionally associated with St. Patrick, including the famous account of his banishing all the snakes from Ireland, are false. The stories are products of hundreds of years of exaggerated storytelling. His real name was probably Maewyn Succat, and Patricius was his Romanicized name. Later he became familiar as Patrick. It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They took him to Ireland where he spent six years being a slave. During his slavery, he worked as a shepherd outside and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for comfort. He became a devout Christian. After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. He wrote about hearing God's voice. This voice spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. To do this, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick wrote that he had a second dream where an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after that dream, Patrick began his religious training. He studied more than fifteen years. He became a priest, and then later a bishop. Patrick was sent to Ireland with a double mission. He ministered to Christians already living in Ireland, and he began to convert the Irish to Christianity. Patrick was familiar with the Irish language and culture, because of his slavery there. Patrick didn't try to make the Irish forget their old beliefs. He decided to add traditional Irish rituals into his lessons of Christianity. For example, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter because the Irish always honored their gods with fire. He also added the sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that the new symbol of Christianity would be more natural to the Irish. For these reasons, Patrick was very successful in converting the Irish to Christianity. Unfortunately, Patrick's success upset the Celtic Druids - the original religious leaders of the Irish. Patrick was arrested several times, but he escaped each time. Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. During his career, he traveled all over Ireland. He established monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches that helped him converting the Irish

Saint Patrick

Celtic Cross

country to Christianity. When Patrick retired, he moved to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been celebrated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Saint Patrick's Day Symbols

The Shamrock
One traditional symbol of Saint Patrick's Day is the Shamrock. "Shamrock" is the common name for several different kinds of three-leafed clovers native to Ireland. The shamrock was chosen Ireland's national emblem because of the legend that St. Patrick had used it to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is the idea that God is really three-in-one: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Patrick demonstrated the meaning of the Three-in-One by picking a shamrock from the grass growing at his feet and showing it to his listeners. He told them that just as the shamrock is one leaf with three parts, God is one entity with three Persons. The Irish have considered shamrocks as good-luck symbols since earliest times, and today people of many other nationalities also believe they bring good luck.

Leprechauns
The name leprechaun comes from the old Irish word "luchorpan" which means "little body." A leprechaun is an Irish fairy who looks like a small, old man about 2 feet tall. He is often dressed like a shoemaker, with a crooked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly. They live alone, and pass the time making shoes. They also have a hidden pot of gold! Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If the leprechaun is caught, he can be threatened with bodily violence to tell where his treasure is, but the leprechaun's captors must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun he's known to trick them into looking away - he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost. GREEN

The Color Green

Believe it or not, the color of St. Patrick was not actually green, but blue! In the 19th century, however, green became used as a symbol for Ireland. In Ireland, there is plentiful rain and mist, so the 'Emerald Isle' really is green all year-round. The beautiful green landscape was probably the inspiration for the national color.

Wearing the color green is considered an act of paying tribute to Ireland. It is said that it also brings good luck, especially when worn on St. Patrick's Day. Many long years ago, playful Irish children began the tradition of pinching people who forgot to wear green on St. Patrick's Day and the tradition is still practiced today.

The Harp
The harp is an ancient musical instrument used in Ireland for centuries. It is also a symbol of Ireland. Harpists, who were often blind, occupied an honored place in Irish society. Harpists and bards (or poets) played an important role in the social structure of Ireland. They were supported by chieftans and kings. Although it is not as recognizable as the shamrock, the harp is a widely used symbol. It appears on Irish coins, the presidential flag, state seals, uniforms, and official documents. O'Carolan was one of the most famous harpists, and many Irish melodies inspired by him still survive to this day.

The Celtic Cross

Saint Patrick was familiar with the Irish language and culture, because of his time as a slave there. When Patrick went back to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity, he was successful because he didn't try to make the Irish forget their old beliefs. He combined their old beliefs with the new beliefs. One example of this is the Celtic Cross. Saint Patrick added the sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that the new symbol of Christianity would be more natural to the Irish.

The Blarney Stone

The word "Blarney" has come to mean nonsense or smooth flattering talk in almost any language. Tradition says that if you pay a visit to Blarney Castle in County Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone, you'll receive the gift of eloquence and powers of persuasion, a true master of the "gift of gab." The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. The castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) -- its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to stop attacks by Cromwellians and William III's troops).

Thousands of tourists a year still visit the castle. The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. It's difficult to reach the stone -- it's between the main castle wall and the parapet. Kissers have to lie on their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support. The world famous Blarney Stone is situated high up in the battlements of the castle. Follow one of the several long, stone spiral staircases up to the top and enjoy the spectacular views of the lush green Irish countryside, Blarney House and The Village of Blarney. The stone is believed to be half of the Stone of Scone which originally belonged to Scotland. Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone, because it was believed to have special powers. The stone was given to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in return for his support in the Battle of Bannockburn.

THE BLARNEY STONE

The Blarney Stone (Irish: Cloch na Blarnan) is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, about 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of the gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the stone and tour the castle and its gardens. The word blarney has come to mean "clever, flattering, or coaxing talk".

Origins

An early story involves the goddess Clodhna. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, the builder of Blarney Castle, [3] being involved in a lawsuit, appealed to Clodhna for her assistance. She told MacCarthy to kiss the first stone he found in the morning on his way to court, and he did so, with the result that he pleaded his case with great eloquence and won. Thus the Blarney Stone is said to impart "the ability to deceive without offending." MacCarthy then incorporated it into the parapet of the castle.

View of the Blarney Stone from the ground

The proprietors of Blarney Castle list several other explanations of the origins of the stone on their website.[5] Many of these suppose that the stone had previously been in Ireland, was taken to Scotland and then returned to Ireland in 1314. The stories listed include one suggesting that the stone was presented to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn.[5] This legend holds that this was a piece of the Stone of Scone and was installed at McCarthy's castle of Blarney. Although colourful, this folk legend does not account for that fact that it supposes that the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn.

Ritual

Person kissing the Blarney Stone

The ritual of kissing the Blarney Stone, according to the castle's proprietors, has been performed by "millions of people", including "world statesmen, literary giants [and] legends of the silver screen".The kiss, however, is not casually achieved. To touch the stone with one's lips, the participant must ascend to the castle's peak, then lean over backwards on the parapet's edge. This is traditionally achieved with the help of an assistant. Although the parapet is now fitted with wrought-iron guide rails and protective crossbars, the ritual can still trigger attacks of acrophobia, an extreme or irrational fear of heights.

Kissing the stone in 1897, before the safeguards were installed.

Before the safeguards were installed, the kiss was performed with real risk to life and limb, as participants were grasped by the ankles and dangled bodily from the height. In the Sherlock

Holmes radio dramatisation "The Adventure of the Blarney Stone" (first broadcast March 18, 1946), a man attempting to kiss the Blarney Stone falls to his death. Holmes' investigation reveals this as a murder, the man's boots having been surreptitiously greased before the attempt. William Henry Hurlbert wrote in 1888 that the legend of the stone seemed to be less than a hundred years old at that time, suggesting the tradition began late in the 18th century. The legend of the Blarney stone was described in A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue by Francis Grose, printed 1785.

Legend
It is claimed that the synonymy of "blarney" with "empty flattery" or "beguiling talk" derives from one of two sources. One story involves the goddess Clodhna and Cormac Laidir MacCarthy (see "Origins" above). Another suggests that Queen Elizabeth I, while requesting an oath of loyalty to retain occupancy of land, received responses from Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, which amounted to subtle diplomacy, and promised loyalty to the Queen without "giving in." Elizabeth proclaimed that McCarthy was giving her "(a lot of) blarney," thus apparently giving rise to the legend. Echoing the supposed power of the stone, an Irish bard of the early 19th century, Francis Sylvester Mahony, added a number of (humorous) lines to Richard Milliken's "The Groves of Blarney". According to tradition at Texas Tech University, a stone fragment on display since 1939 outside the old Electrical Engineering Building is a missing piece of the Blarney Stone. How this was determined is unknown.

Kissed Blarney Stone

Legend says that anyone who kisses the Blarney Stone of Ireland will be blessed with eloquence. Make your own kissed Blarney Stone to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

What you'll need:

Rock White and green acrylic paint Sponge applicator Pencil Gold paint pen White glitter glue Paintbrush Pattern

How to make it:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Using sponge applicator or large paint brush, paint the rock white. Let dry. Print lips patterns and cut out. Trace around the lips lightly with a pencil onto the rock. Paint the lips green and let dry. Outline the lips with gold paint pen. Use gold paint pen to add other decorations to the rock such as swirled lines and circles. Cover the entire rock with glitter glue and let dry.

Tips:
1. 2. Green glitter glue can be used on the lips. Paint pens are available from discount department stores and craft supply stores.

3.

The color green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and shamrocks.

Leprechaun & Pot of Gold Mobile

Try these fun printables to construct a mobile. Paint the paper plate half in rainbow fashion as indicated in the instructions and print the patterns below.

What you'll need:

1 paper plate Paper streamers or wide ribbon in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple) OR Craft paint in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple) Scissors White craft glue Piece of ribbon for hanging Leprechaun and pot of gold printable listed above

How to make it:

1. Cut the paper plate in half. Paint it with craft paint in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Use our photo as a guide. Let dry completely and paint the other side as well. 2. Color the printouts, then fold in half along the center line and glue the two sides together. 3. While you're gluing, tuck the yarn for hanging. There is a small mark on the printout at the top center of the picture to show where the yarn goes. 4. Hang the leprechaun and the pot of gold on either end of the rainbow. 5. Tie a piece of ribbon into a knot, then glue to the back of the plate to use as a hanger.

Tips:

Foam plates work well for this project. They have smooth edges and paint sticks right to them. Make a 3-D rainbow by painting two paper plate halves. Glue them together and hang your shamrocks from the bottom. Have something fun for the kids to do during drying time so they don't jump the gun and grab their projects too soon.