Entry FeedMy mother has a saying, "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who are Irish, and those who wish they were."
Today the world is Irish, so Happy St. Patrick's Day. We are all wearing our green, except Husband. Are you?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland (along with St. Brigid). He lived in Ireland around the first half of the fifth century, and is credited with banishing the snakes from the green isle. Really, I believe this is a metaphor as some ancient druids, the pagans, would tattoo snakes on their arms, so it is symbolic of the baptism of the country.
Years ago, when visiting the Rock of Cashel, I heard a little of the legend of St. Patrick.
In 432 AD, St. Patrick arrived in Cashel and baptized King Aengus who became Ireland's first Christian ruler. The guide on our tour explained how when the king knelt to be baptized, Patrick accidentally drove his staff into the king's foot. The peasants, thinking this was part of the ritual, decided that it would be painful to be converted to Christian and many stayed pagan.
This was also when St. Patrick, according to legend, picked a shamrock and used it to explain the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, thus creating one of the most enduring symbols of Ireland.
Wear your green today proudly. Happy St. Patrick's Day!