Where Do Shamrocks, Leprechauns And The Blarney Stone Fit In?
St. Patrick used shamrocks, a three-leafed plant, as an analogy for the Trinity showing how three separate elements could be of the same entity.
So What Is The Connection With Leprechauns?
The name 'leprechaun' is derived from the old Irish word 'luchorpan', which means 'little body'. The folklore surrounding the Leprechaun has been coupled with luck and the 'pot of gold at the end of the rainbow'. The story has its roots from the time when the Danes pillaged Ireland and left their spoils to be guarded by the Leprechauns. This spawned the old legend that if you catch a Leprechaun he will take you to his pot hidden behind a rainbow. The leprechaun also carries two leather pouches tied to his belt: one contains a gold coin, and the other a silver coin. The silver coin magically disappears and returns to the pouch each time it is used.
So Why Leprechauns On St Pattys Day?
Because they're Irish!
Bye the way... if you catch a leprechaun, you can demand that he takes you to his pot of gold! But do NOT look away. Not even for a second, because they have the power to vanish in the blink of an eye. (And dont let him offer to show you his 'silver coin'!)
...And The Blarney Stone?
The Blarney Stone is set in the tower wall of the Blarney Castle, built in 1446 in southern Ireland. Kissing the Blarney stone is supposed to give the kisser the "gift of gab", the power of persuasive eloquence, also called "blarney". To kiss the Blarney Stone, you must bend over backward and lower yourself down about two feet at the top of the castle.
What's So Special About The Blarney Stone And How Does It Tie In To St. Patrick?
One story about its origins ties it to the Scottish "Stone of Scone". The Stone of Scone is also known as the Scone of Destiny. The kings of Scotland were crowned while sitting on it, and Saint Patrick blessed it. And the Blarney Stone may have originally been part of the Stone of Scone.
Bye the way... its been said Queen Elizabeth I coined the phrase 'blarney' due to her exasperation with Lord Blarney's ability to talk endlessly without ever actually agreeing to her demands. (Though the Castle itself was originally a hunting lodge and takes its name from the Irish An blarna, which means "the plain".)
What Are Some Good Green Foods To Serve On Saint Patricks Day?
On St. Patrick´s Day, everyone wants to be Irish. It is not only the perfect excuse to drink Guinness and have a great time, but if you love to feast, you could plan a meal around Irish recipes. You could use recipes featuring Irish ingredients or just plan a green-coloured dinner. Need a few ideas? How about little cheese balls rolled in chopped green herbs and parsley? Whip up a quick batch of fresh guacamole dip. Maybe try some creamy dips tinted green using food coloring. How about a glass of spinach juice? Ok, maybe thats taking it too far (but it IS green).
Of course, you could simply sit down to a nice old Irish favorite... a corned beef and cabbage dinner.
How Come You Forgot To Mention The Part About St. Patrick And The Snakes?
Yeah, yeah, I knew I couldnt get away without talking about snakes. Ok. While Saint Patrick IS known for driving the snakes out of Ireland... and while it IS true there are no snakes in Ireland... guess what? There probably never has been any snakes in Ireland (since the island was separated from the continent towards the end of the Ice Age). So why the whole snake thing? Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic for putting an end to old pagan religious practices and the worshiping of the snake symbol.
What Is Saint Patricks Day? What is the meaning of saint patricks day? How did it begin?
If you are asking those burning questions, you must have missed the first half of my article! "Saint Patricks Day - More Than You Ever Wanted To Know - Part 1".
About the author: Dennis Orwell specializes in writing professional reviews and is part Irish. He is currently working on things for St Patricks Day 2009. Additional St Patricks Day 2009 information: patty shirt . A great St Patricks Day 2009 resource: irish tee. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this resource box and links to http://StPatty.com are kept unchanged.
About the author: Dennis Orwell specializes in writing professional reviews and is part Irish. He is currently working on things for St Patricks Day 2009. Additional St Patricks Day 2009 information: patty shirt . A great St Patricks Day 2009 resource: irish tee. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this resource box and links to http://StPatty.com are kept unchanged.
