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St. Patrick's Day Legends and Oddities

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Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland but was born in Wales about 385AD. His given name wa Maewyn and until the age of 16 he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his 6 years of captivity he became closer to God and when he escaped he went Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain. During his training at the monastery he became aware that his calling was to convert pagans to Christianity. He returned to Ireland to win converts among the pagans with the churches title of second bishop to Ireland. He traveled throughout Ireland converting the pagans to Christianity and established monasteries, schools and churches. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years before he retired to County Down and died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as Saint Patrick's Day ever since. You can find the paper Greeting Cards that celebrate Saint Patrick's Day by clicking Saint Patrick's Day Cards.

Folk Lore
Some of the lore of Saint Patrick is the belief he raised people from the dead. He was also known to have given a sermon on a hill top that drove the snakes from Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day Traditions
One Saint Patrick's Day traditional icons is the shamrock. It is a bona fide Irish folk tale of how Saint Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day.

American Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations
The Saint Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year Saint Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in the USA and was celebrated in Boston.

Note: Saint Patrick's Day was originally a Catholic holy day but it has evolved into more of a secular holiday celebrating anything Irish, even the Orange of the protestants.

Irish Song Lyrics To "Danny Boy"

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying

‘Tis you, ‘tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
‘Tis I'll be here 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'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Saint Patrick's Day & Irish Sayings

May the road rise up to meet you!

May the wind be always at your back!

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain!

May the rain fall softly upon your fields!

May thesun shine warm upon your face!

Top of the mornin' to you... And the rest of the day to 'me self!

May there always be work for you to do!

May your purse always hold a coin or two!

May the sun always shine on your window pane!

May the hand of a friend always be near you!

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you!

Erin Go Braugh (Ireland forever)!

Caddylak Maxy's Texas Irish Stew Recipe
(Servings: 3 Irish Texans or 6 regular Irish folks!)

Ingredients:

2tb. oil
6 lg. Onions cut in wedges
5 lg. Carrots cut in thick slices
1 ½ lb. Sirlion steak
1 lg. Jalapeno dice in small pieces
6 lg. Potatoes
1c. Water
Salt and Pepper

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Soften onions in oil. Add carrots and cook for several minutes. Cut steak into ½ inch cubes and add to onions & carrots. Wash, peel and slice potatoes and add to pot . Pour in water and add some salt and pepper. Bring the whole lot to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer on a low heat until all vegetables are tender.
For those who prefer thick stew two tablespoons of flour can be added with a little water to thicken the broth. Heat through until thickened and serve piping hot.