Saint Patrick's Day History

Subject: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:10 am

The Legend of St. Patrick

St. Patrick born around 385 A.D. in Scotland, is credited with bringing Christitianity to Ireland

At age 14, Irish raiders seized Patrick to be a slave
He later escaped and reunited with his family

A dream called him back to Ireland, where until his death on March 17, 465 A.D., St. Patrick preached the Gospel and built churches throughout the country

A very important holiday to the Irish, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional time for spiritual renewal.

St.Patrick

is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish.
But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through
his service across Ireland of the 5th century.

Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD.
There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth.
According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D.,
while the other school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place
is said to be in either Scotland or Roman England.
His real name was probably Maewyn Succat.
Though Patricius was his Romanicized name,
he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.

Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer.
He was growing up as naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day
a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy
along with many others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland.
The was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned.
This was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God.
Legend says, he was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.

Finally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France.
There he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain,
the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training.
And when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him
back to Ireland to tell them about God.
The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most important
document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain,
in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish."

So he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted
the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was
confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming
with untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to
a kinglet here and a lawgiver there,but accepted none from any.

Indeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts.
Through active preaching, he made important converts even
among the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids.
Patrick was arrested several times,but escaped each time.
For 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland,
establishing monasteries across the country.
He also set up schools and churches
which would aid him in his conversion.
He developed a native clergy,
fostered the growth of monasticism,
established dioceses, and held church councils.

Patrick's doctrine is considered orthodox
and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian.
Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning,
a few of his writings remain extant:
his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters.
The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick,
may date to a later period.

By the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure,
and the legends have continued to grow since then.
There are many legends associated with St Patrick.
It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock
to explain the concept of the Trinity;
which refers to the combination of
Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Hence its strong association with his day and name.
Legend also has that,
Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland.
And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.

True, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years,
these legends have been inseparably combined with the facts.
And together they have helped us know
much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration of the day.

Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years.
He died on March 17, AD 461.
That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland.
Though originally a Catholic holy day,
St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.
Or, rather, 'be an Irish Day '.
And the Irish has borne it as part of their national tradition in
everywhere they populated and prospered.
The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday in celebration of the Irish and Irish culture.

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:13 am

HISTORY OF SHAMROCK

In written English, the first reference to the Shamrock dates from 1571, andin written Irish, as seamrog, from 1707. As a badge to be worn on the lapel on the Saint's feast day, it is referred to for the first time as late as 1681. The
Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, before '98 and The Act of Union. So rebellious did the wearing of the Shamrock eventually appear, that in Queen
Victoria's time Irish regiments were forbidden to display it. At that time it became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross colored red and green.
As a symbol of Ireland it has long been integrated into the symbol of the United Kingdom, along with the Rose, the Thistle and the Leek of England, Scotland and Wales. So today, on St. Patrick's Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army.

The Magic Shamrock

Three is Ireland's magic number. Hence the Shamrock. Crone, Mother and Virgin. Love, Valour and Wit.. Faith, Hope and Charity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism. Three was the most sacred and magical number. It multiplies to nine, which is sacred to Brigit. Three may have signified totality: past, present and future OR behind, before and here OR sky, earth and underworld. Everything good in Ireland comes in threes. The rhythm of story telling in the Irish tradition is based on threefold repetition. This achieves both intensification and exaggeration. Even today in quality pub talk, a raconteur can rarely resist a third adjective, especially if it means stretching a point. "Three accomplishments well regarded in Ireland: a clever verse, music on the harp, the art of shaving faces."

The Symbol of the Shamrock

The Shamrock, one of the most widely recognized symbols of Ireland, has been considered good luck since the earliest of times

Legend says St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach pagans the doctrine of the Holy Trinity

Just as three leaves make up one shamrock, Three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are in one God.

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:22 am

IRISH BLESSINGS

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way-
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.

'Tis better to buy a small bouquet
And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red
To lay on his coffin after he's dead.

Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
You may search everywhere
But none can compare to my wild Irish rose
My wild Irish rose
The sweetest flower that grows
Someday for my sake she may let me take
A bloom from my wild Irish rose

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

Go mbeannai Dia duit
(May God Bless You)

May the lilt of lush laughter lighten ever road,
May the midst of Irish magic shorten every road.
May you taste the sweetest pleasures
that fortune ever bestowed,
And may all your friends remember
all the favors you are owed.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night,

Here's to a long life and a merry one
A quick death and an easy one
A pretty girl and an honest one
A cold beer and another one!

These things I warmly wish to you-
Someone to love
Some work to do
A bit o' sun
A bit o' cheer
And a guardian angel always near.

May God grant you many years to live,
For sure he must be knowing
The earth has angels all to few
And Heaven is overflowing.

May you have:
A world of wishes at your command
God and his angels close at hand
Friends and family their love impart,
And Irish blessings in you heart.

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;
And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes.
That's the Irish for you!

May luck be our companion
May friends stand by our side
May history remind us all
Of Ireland's faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness
May love and faith abide.

As you slide down the banister of life,
May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!

May those who love us, love us
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts
And if he can't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles
So we will know them by their limping!

May you live to be a hundred years
With one extra year to repent.

May the best day of your past
Be the worst day of your future.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

May you be in
Heaven a half hour before the
Devil knows you're dead!

May you always have
Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:24 am

Irish Sayings

If you're enough lucky to be Irish...
You're lucky enough!

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.
God is good, but never dance in a small boat.

O Ireland isn't it grand you look
like a bride in her rich adornin?
And with all the pent up love of my heart
I bid you the top o' the mornin!

There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head.
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How in the hell can he drink when he's dead?

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:28 am

BEER FACTS - ALE After consuming a vibrant brew called Aul or Ale, the Vikings would go fearlessly to the battlefield, without their armour, or even their shirts. The "Berserk" means "bear shirt" in norse, and eventually to the meaning of wild battles.

BEER FACTS - WET YOUR WHISTLE Long ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim of their beer mugs or ceremic/glass cups. The whistle was used to order services. Thus we get the phrase, "wet your whistle".

BEER FACTS - GROGGY Way down in 1740, the Admiral Veron of the British fleet decided to water down the navy's rum, which naturally, the sailors weren't pleased with. They nicknamed the Admiral Old Grog, after the still stiff grogram coats he used to wear. The term grog soon began to mean the watered down drink itself. When you are drunk on this this grog, you are "groggy", a word still in use.

BEER FACTS - P'S & Q'S In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender used to yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. From where we get "mind your own P's and Q's".

BEER FACTS - RULE OF THUMB Before invention of the thermometer, brewers used to check the temperature by dipping their thumb, to find whether appropriate for adding Yeast. Too hot, the yeast would die. This is where we get the phrase " The Rule of the Thumb"

BEER FACTS - HONEY MOON About 4000 years ago, it was the accepted practice in Babylonia that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calender was lunar based, this period was called the "honey month" or what we know to day as the "Honey moon"

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:29 am

ITS A CELEBRATION

With the origin being Ireland it is obvious that the Day is also holiday there,
as it is here in the US.But In Ireland, it is more of a religious holiday
similar to Christmas and Easter.
With grand parades, community feasts, charity show, the mass,
St Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland.
The parades, shamrocks, and green beer are provided primarily for tourists.
In fact, it has turned out
to be one of the most celebrated events in Ireland and a major tourist attraction.

With so many activities and programs it may seem a little confusing about what
actually is the theme of this multi dimensional celebration.

The early Irish immigrants like the English, Dutch, German, French and the likes,
brought their traditions in United States. But it was not until 1737 that
the immigrants really celebrated the Day. And It was in Boston where the Day was
first celebrated in a public way.
Gradually other states took it up. And it was New York
that took out the largest ever St Patrick' s Day parade. Held since 1762,
the New York City parade on St Patrick's Day draws more than
one million spectators each year.

Meanwhile the city of Chicago has developed a unique tradition of
coloring the river water green. It started in 1962 when 100 pounds of green vegetable dye were added to its river, enough
to keep it green for a week. The tradition has continued till date.
Now, 40 pounds of a green food coloring keep the river green for only a few hours.

These apart Irish community in various cities celebrate the Day with social
and community works. Making charities, attending mass, promoting their own culture,
and feasting with their foods.

Despite all these varieties, all are driven by a unique theme: be an Irish day.
It's a celebration for being Irish and enjoying things Irish.
While it reminds us about St Patrick
It also tells us to be Irish. With shamrocks and the leprechaun.
As it tells us to cook and feast the Irish way. To laugh away all worries with
Irish jokes. Dance to the tunes of the Irish bands. Try out the Irish words.
And with all these the Day lets us know
the real fun of being Irish.

http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/celebration.htm

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:29 am

St Brigit and St. Patrick

Brigit's Shrine:
The Celtic world in pre-Christian times was devoted to the goddess Brigit, the all encompassing goddess of healing, farming (particularly dairy), crafts (particularly smith crafts and poetry, the craft of words) and fire. At Brigit's shrine at Kildare an ever burning sacred fire was kept lit in her honor by all female devotees. This shrine was later claimed by the church and there was built a convent. Brigit was canonized as St. Brigit and Catholic tradition had it that as a Druid convert to Christianity St.Brigit founded this the first convent in Ireland.
St Brigit Legonds

Not only as a keeper of the goddess Brigit's sacred fire, many of the attributes and mythology of the ancient goddess was attributed St.Brigit.It was believed that flowers sprung up from where she walked and at springtime her cloak passed over the earth to bring it back to life. Asthe "Queen of Heaven" she was considered by ancient Celts on a par with Mary
the mother of Christ, some legends even referring to her as her sister, and as the nursemaid to the infant Christ child, feeding him with her sacred milk. In a popular spell to protect against the evil eye, she was invoked as "The Great White Mary sent to Bride (Brigit) the lovely fair."
Brigit and St.Patrick
Brigit herself was considered in popular Irish mythology to be both mystic mother and bride of St. Patrick. Some legends have it that St. Patrick died as one of her sacrificial victims and entered the underworld via her sacred
grove at Derry Down. As the old Distich went, "On the hill of Down, burried in one tomb, were Bridget and Patricius."
St.Patrick Day Legions
An Irish slave who grew to become bishop, St. Patrick is credited for traveling all over converting the Irish to Christianity. Patrick's name meant "father" and historians believe he may have been seen in the eyes of the ancient Irish as a new version of Brigit's old consort The Dagda or "father god(s)". The Dagda, also known as "the good god", was the Celtic God of the earth and plenty. As snakes were symbols of both the earth and the male life force, it is no wonder that they showed up in St.Patrick's most popular legend. The legend of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland has come to be accepted as an allegory, as snakes were sacred to the Druids and also represented in Celtic thought esoteric knowledge.
Thankyou Pamelina Tapia for the information

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:30 am

The Tale of Ivan

There were formerly a man and a woman living in the parish of Llanlavan, in the place which is called Hwrdh. And work became scarce, so the man said to his wife, "I will go search for work, and you may live here." So he took fair leave, and travelled far toward the East, and at last came to the house of a farmer and asked for work.

"What work can ye do?" said the farmer. "I can do all kinds of work," said Ivan. Then they agreed upon three pounds for the year's wages.

When the end of the year came his master showed him the three pounds. "See, Ivan," said he, "here's your wage; but if you will give it me back I'll give you a piece of advice instead."

"Give me my wage," said Ivan.

"No, I'll not," said the master; "I'll explain my advice."

"Tell it me, then," said Ivan.
Then said the master, "Never leave the old road for the sake of a new one."

After that they agreed for another year at the old wages, and at the end of it Ivan took instead a piece of advice, and this was it: "Never lodge where an old man is married to a young woman."

The same thing happened at the end of the third year, when the piece of advice was: "Honesty is the best policy."

But Ivan would not stay longer, but wanted to go back to his wife.

"Don't go to-day," said his master; "my wife bakes to-morrow, and she shall make thee a cake to take home to thy good woman."

And when Ivan was going to leave, "Here," said his master, "here is a cake for thee to take home to thy wife, and, when ye are most joyous together, then break the cake, and not sooner."

So he took fair leave of them and travelled towards home, and at last he came to Wayn Her, and there he met three merchants from Tre Rhyn, of his own parish, coming home from Exeter Fair. "Oho! Ivan," said they, "come with us; glad are we to see you. Where have you been so long?"

"I have been in service," said Ivan, "and now I'm going home to my wife."

"Oh, come with us! you'll be right welcome." But when they took the new road Ivan kept to the old one. And robbers fell upon them before they had gone far from Ivan as they were going by the fields of the houses in the meadow. They began to cry out, "Thieves!" and Ivan shouted out "Thieves!" too. And when the robbers heard Ivan's shout they ran away, and the merchants went by the new road and Ivan by the old one till they met again at Market-Jew.

"Oh, Ivan," said the merchants, "we are beholding to you; but for you we would have been lost men. Come lodge with us at our cost, and welcome."

When they came to the place where they used to lodge, Ivan said, "I must see the host."

"The host," they cried; "what do you want with the host? Here is the hostess, and she's young and pretty. If you want to see the host you'll find him in the kitchen."

So he went into the kitchen to see the host; he found him a weak old man turning the spit.

"Oh! oh!" quoth Ivan, "I'll not lodge here, but will go next door."

"Not yet," said the merchants, "sup with us, and welcome."

Now it happened that the hostess had plotted with a certain monk in Market-Jew to murder the old man in his bed that night while the rest were asleep, and they agreed to lay it on the lodgers.

So while Ivan was in bed next door, there was a hole in the pine-end of the house, and he saw a light through it. So he got up and looked, and heard the monk speaking. "I had better cover this hole," said he, "or people in the next house may see our deeds." So he stood with his back against it while the hostess killed the old man.

But meanwhile Ivan out with his knife, and putting it through the hole, cut a round piece off the monk's robe. The very next morning the hostess raised the cry that her husband was murdered, and as there was neither man nor child in the house but the merchants, she declared they ought to be hanged for it.

So they were taken and carried to prison, till a last Ivan came to them. "Alas! alas! Ivan," cried they, "bad luck sticks to us; our host was killed last night, and we shall be hanged for it."

"Ah, tell the justices," said Ivan, "to summon the real murderers."

"Who knows," they replied, "who committed the crime?"

"Who committed the crime!" said Ivan. "if I cannot prove who committed the crime, hang me in your stead."

So he told all he knew, and brought out the piece of cloth from the monk's robe, and with that the merchants were set at liberty, and the hostess and the monk were seized and hanged.

Then they came all together out of Market-Jew, and they said to him: "Come as far as Coed Carrn y Wylfa, the Wood of the Heap of Stones of Watching, in the parish of Burman." Then their two roads separated, and though the merchants wished Ivan to go with them, he would not go with them, but went straight home to his wife.

And when his wife saw him she said: "Home in the nick of time. Here's a purse of gold that I've found; it has no name, but sure it belongs to the great lord yonder. I was just thinking what to do when you came."

Then Ivan thought of the third counsel, and he said "Let us go and give it to the great lord."

So they went up to the castle, but the great lord was not in it, so they left the purse with the servant that minded the gate, and then they went home again and lived in quiet for a time.

But one day the great lord stopped at their house for a drink of water, and Ivan's wife said to him: "I hope your lordship found your lordship's purse quite safe with all its money in it."

"What purse is that you are talking about?" said the lord.

"Sure, it's your lordship's purse that I left at the castle," said Ivan.

"Come with me and we will see into the matter," said the lord.

So Ivan and his wife went up to the castle, and there they pointed out the man to whom they had given the purse, and he had to give it up and was sent away from the castle. And the lord was so pleased with Ivan that he made him his servant in the stead of the thief.

"Honesty's the best policy!" quoth Ivan, as he skipped about in his new quarters. "How joyful I am!"

Then he thought of his old master's cake that he was to eat when he was most joyful, and when he broke it, to and behold, inside it was his wages for the three years he had been with him.

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:31 am

The Horned Women

A rich woman sat up late one night carding and preparing wool, while all the family and servants were asleep. Suddenly a knock was given at the door, and a voice called, "Open! open!"

"Who is there?" said the woman of the house.

"I am the Witch of one Horn," was answered.

The mistress, supposing that one of her neighbours had called and required assistance, opened the door, and a woman entered, having in her hand a pair of wool-carders, and bearing a horn on her forehead, as if growing there. She sat down by the fire in silence, and began to card the wool with violent haste. Suddenly she paused, and said aloud: "Where are the women? they delay too long."

Then a second knock came to the door, and a voice called as before, "Open! open!"

The mistress felt herself obliged to rise and open to the call, and immediately a second witch entered, having two horns on her forehead, and in her hand a wheel for spinning wool.

"Give me place," she said; "I am the Witch of the two Horns," and she began to spin as quick as lightning.

And so the knocks went on, and the call was heard, and the witches entered, until at last twelve women sat round the fire - the first with one horn, the last with twelve horns.

And they carded the thread, and turned their spinning-wheels, and wound and wove, all singing together an ancient rhyme, but no word did they speak to the mistress of the house. Strange to hear, and frightful to look upon, were these twelve women, with their horns and their wheels; and the mistress felt near to death, and she tried to rise that she might call for help, but she could not move, nor could she utter a word or a cry, for the spell of the witches was upon her.

Then one of them called to her in Irish, and said, "Rise, woman, and make us a cake."

Then the mistress searched for a vessel to bring water from the well that she might mix the meal and make the cake, but she could find none.

And they said to her, "Take a sieve and bring water in it."

And she took the sieve and went to the well - but the water poured from it, and she could fetch none for the cake, and she sat down by the well and wept.

Then a voice came by her and said, "Take yellow clay and moss, and bind them together, and plaster the sieve so that it will hold."

This she did, and the sieve held the water for the cake - and the voice said again:

"Return, and when thou comest to the north angle of the house, cry aloud three times and say, 'The mountain of the Fenian women and the sky over it is all on fire.'"

And she did so.

When the witches inside heard the call, a great and terrible cry broke from their lips, and they rushed forth with wild lamentations and shrieks, and fled away to Slievenamon, where was their chief abode. But the Spirit of the Well bade the mistress of the house to enter and prepare her home against the enchantments of the witches if they returned again.

And first, to break their spells, she sprinkled the water in which she had washed her child's feet, the feet-water, outside the door on the threshold - secondly, she took the cake which in her absence the witches had made of meal mixed with the blood drawn from the sleeping family, and she broke the cake in bits, and placed a bit in the mouth of each sleeper, and they were restored - and she took the cloth they had woven, and placed it half in and half out of the chest with the padlock - and lastly, she secured the door with a great crossbeam fastened in the jambs, so that the witches could not enter, and having done these things she waited.

Not long were the witches in coming back, and they raged and called for vengeance.

"Open! open!" they screamed; "open, feet-water!"

"I cannot," said the feet-water; "I am scattered on the ground, and my path is down to the Lough."

"Open, open, wood and trees and beam!" they cried to the door.

"I cannot," said the door, "for the beam is fixed in the jambs and I have no power to move."

"Open, open, cake that we have made and mingled with blood!" they cried again.

"I cannot," said the cake, "for I am broken and bruised, and my blood is on the lips of the sleeping children."

Then the witches rushed through the air with great cries, and fled back to Slievenamon, uttering strange curses on the Spirit of the Well, who had wished their ruin - but the woman and the house were left in peace, and a mantle dropped by one of the witches in her flight was kept hung up by the mistress in memory of that night; and this mantle was kept by the same family from generation to generation for five hundred years after.

from:http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/fairytales/horned_women.htm

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:36 am

IRISH SONGS

Sweeney's Pub by BULLGOOSELOONY

It's seen so many years
but why don't you stop in and down a few beers?

I was walking alone late one evening
and desperately seeking some fun
I saw Sweeney's bar in the distance
and at once I knew my search was done

So come on down
grab a beer
bring some pals and spread the cheer
you want some fun?
don't look far
you can stop in anytime
down at Sweeney's bar!

I opened the door and took a step in
and Pat Sweeney's greeting was warm
first I sat down and then ordered a round
and my evening had started to form

chorus

Me and the other guys started singing
and joking all though the night
we yelled for some more
and Pat said "Outta my store!"
and nobody put up a fight

chorus

I stumbeled out the door the next morning
shitfaced as a drunkard could be
I got on my feet and trudged down the street
what a night that had been for me

chorus

St. Patrick's Day
Lyrics John Mayer

Here comes the cold
Break out the winter clothes
And find a love to call your own
You - enter you
Your cheeks a shade of pink
And the rest of you in powder blue

Who knows what will be
But I'll make you this guarantee

No way November will see our goodbye
When it comes to December it's obvious why
No one wants to be alone at Christmas time

In the dark, on the phone
You tell me the names of your brothers
And your favorite colors
I'm learning you
And when it snows again
We'll take a walk outside
And search the sky
Like children do

No way November will see our goodbye
When it comes to December it's obvious why
No one wants to be alone at Christmas time
And come January we're frozen inside
Making new resolutions a hundred times
February, won't you be my Valentine?

And we'll both be safe 'til St. Patrrick's Day

We should take a ride tonight around the town
and look around at all the beautiful houses
something in the way that blue lights on a black night
can make you feel more
everybody, it seems to me, just wants to be
just like you and me

No one wants to be alone at Christmas time
Come January we're frozen inside
Making new resolutions a hundred times
February, won't you be my valentine?

And if our always is all that we gave
And we someday take that away
I'll be alright if it was just 'til St. Patrick's Day

Danny

Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen and on the mountainside.
The summer's gone and all the leaves are falling,
'Tis you must go, 'tis you must go and I must bide !

But come you back, when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hush and white with snow !
Then I'll be there 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 simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so!

for more songs and poems http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/poems.htm

An Irish Lullaby

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Hush now, don't you cry.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
That's an Irish lullaby.

Over in Kilarney,
Many years ago
My mother sang a song to me
In tones so soft and low
Just a simple little ditty
In her good old Irish way
And I'd give the world if I could hear
That song of hers today.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Hush now, don't you cry.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
That's an Irish lullaby.

Oft' in dreams I wander
To that cot again
I feel her arms a huggin' me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a hummin'
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Hush now, don't you cry.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
That's an Irish lullaby.

Unicorn

A long time ago when the Earth was green,
There was more kinds of animals then you've ever seen.
And they'd run around free while the world was being born.
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!

There was green alligators and long necked geese,
Hump back camels and chimpanzees.
Cats and rats and elephants but sure a you're born,
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!

But the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused him pain.
He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain.
So hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do.
Go and build me a floating zoo."

"You'll take two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees.
Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my unicorns!"

Well, Noah looked out through the drivin' rain,
But the unicorns was hidin'-playin' silly games.
They were kickin' and a-splashin' while the rain was pourin',
Oh them foolish unicorns.

"So you take two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees.
Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my unicorns."

And the the ark started movin' and it drifted with the tide,
And the unicorns looked up from the rock and cried.
And the water came up and sort of floated them away,
That's why you've never seen a unicorn to this day.

You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese,
You'll see hump back camels and chimpanzees.
You'll see cats and rats and elephants but as sure as you're born,
You're never gonna see no unicorn.

AN IRISH DITTY
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:39 am

When Irish eyes Are Smiling,

     Sure it's like a morn in Spring.
       In the lilt of Irish laughter,
    You can hear the angels sing!
      When Irish eyes are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay,
   And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure they steal your heart away.

    May your mornings bring joy
   and your evenings bring peace...
   May your troubles grow less
    as your blessings increase!

     May neighbors respect you,
     Trouble neglect you,
     The angels protect you,
    And heaven accept you. May the mist of Irish magic
           shorten every road...
And may all your friends remember
      all the favors you are owed!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:43 am

Kissing the Blarney stone

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.

Queen Elizabeth I wanted Irish chiefs to agree to occupy their own lands under title from her. Cormac Teige McCarthy, the Lord of Blarney, handled every Royal request with subtle diplomacy, promising loyalty to the Queen without "giving in". Elizabeth proclaimed that McCarthy was giving her "a lot of Blarney", thus giving rise to the legend.

You too can acquire the gift of eloquence by kissing the stone!

The Rock Close
The Rock Close is laid out on a pre-historic Druids site with the remains of huge boulders, rocks, a dolmen (a megalithic tomb with a large flat stone laid on uprights), a sacrificial altar and a witches kitchen. You will also find Japanese bamboo trees, magnolias, Siberian dogwood and weeping willows and a stream which can be crossed via a small pedestrian bridge.

The Arboretum and woodland walks
There are numerous woodland walks on the grounds of the Blarney Castle estate, through which winds the River Martin. In the arboretum you will find colorful displays of copper beach, ornamental pear, southern beech, nothafagus and evergreen oaks. Adjacent to the arboretum, one finds the Belgian Beds planted with hybrid azaleas, and a western red cedar tree from British Columbia.

Blarney House and Gardens

Blarney House is situated 200m South of Blarney Castle and was completed in 1874. The house is open to the public during the Summer months only. It has been completely restored over the past few years. The house is surrounded by extensive lawns, shrubs, trees, and flower beds. These slope gently towards the lake.

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:44 am

Leprechaun Poop

The leprechauns of Ireland
Bring a special gift your way
It's full of love and happiness
On this St. Patrick's Day
And along with all good wishes
From this merry little group
Comes a little something special
It's a bag of Leprechaun Poop

Ingredient Suggestions:

Green M&M's
Green jellybeans

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:46 am

Free Ancestry Search

Maybe your Irish

Subject: Re: Saint Patrick's Day History Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:16 am

http://www.mamarocks.com/irish_eyes.htm

Want to listen to the song Irish Eye's are smiling?
Just click on the link above

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