Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day or Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit. While many see today as a day for green beer and rivers, the wearing of green and shamrocks, others see this as a day of solemn religious observation. Two opposing approaches to the same day.

Amongst the many shades of green you will see today, you will also probably see a three-leaf clover called a shamrock. Over time, it has become an iconic symbol of St. Patrick’s Day and of Ireland itself. The three leaflets have a religious significance related to the Holy Trinity. The four-leaf clover is actually considered a mutation and if found, it is considered a symbol of good luck.

A tradition that comes from Irish Folklore is related to the many stories of the ‘little people’ and leprechauns. Any time there is a story about leprechauns two other items will come up- rainbows and a pot of gold supposedly to be found at the end of said rainbow. Wonderful stories about these two objects are fun to consider, sadly they are both unattainable. Rainbows are an optical illusion of refracted light, like a prism, and the other a captivating mythological prize talked about it various stories.

Many people will claim to be Irish for the day. There will be lots of ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’ pins that will be worn in celebration. Fun fact! My sister was doing some family ancestry research and found that my paternal grandmother’s family arrived in France from the West Coast of Ireland, County Kerry.  I always thought my coloring of fair skin and bright red hair (when I was younger) came from my mother’s side of the family who came from Sweden. I guess between the two there is no way I’m ever going to get a real tan, just more freckles!

An important part of Irish culture is storytelling. The Gaelic name, Seanchai, means storyteller. This person is a professional storyteller and in history had the role of keeping the oral history alive and well. Oral history has been a part of Ireland’s history for hundreds if not thousands of years. It’s how the myths, legends, and folklore were handed down to each generation. Storytelling has been embedded in Irish culture not only through the Seanchai, but also through song and poetry. In many ways, it helps preserve cultural identity. The Seanchai had such an important role not only in memorizing a community’s history and the genealogies within it, but the stories and poems that breathe life into them. It’s an art that still thrives today. Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, has always been a favorite of mine. His ability to weave and play with words is not only fun to read, but interesting academically.  Think about it, whenever we as families get together, how many stories starting with ‘do you remember when” are told? Storytelling is part of our lives in many different forms, but always important. I would like to think that my joy in writing is part of my family ancestry.

So, in light of Saint Patrick’s Day, I’ll leave you with one of many Irish blessings:

            May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks

            May your heart be as light as a song

            May each day bring you bright, happy hours

            That stay with you all year long.

Cheers to the storyteller in all of us!