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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 14, 2006 The St. Patty’s Day tradition By Alla Farrell Ashland Daily Tidings It’s St. Patrick’s Day! Every year on March 17, millions of people around the world just for a day claim to be Irish: everyone is wearing green and four leaf clovers, talking about catching lucky leprechauns, and kissing some big rock called a Blarney Stone. Here’s how it all started. Near the end of the fourth century in the family of a wealthy couple of Britain was born a boy named Maewyn Succat. At the age of 16 he was kidnaped from his native land of Britain, by a band of pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. Maewyn worked as a shepherd and turned to religion for solace. After six long years of slavery, he escaped to the northern coast of Gaul. Here Maewyn became Patrick (a more Christian name) and studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre, for 12 years. He came to believe that it was his calling to convert the pagans of Ireland to Christianity. St. Palladius was appointed to go to Ireland first but transferred to Scotland two years later, opening up the door for Patrick. Patrick was about 60 years old when he arrived in Ireland and it is said that he had a winning personality that helped him win converts. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, to help explain the concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries and setting up schools and churches to aid in converting the Irish country to Christianity. St. Patrick is most known for driving all the snakes out of Ireland. Evidently, they all went into the sea and drowned. The snake is a pagan symbol, and perhaps this is a figurative tale explaining that he drove paganism out of Ireland. Patrick’s mission in Ireland lasted for 30 years. He then retired to County Down and died on March 17 in 461 AD. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since. The first year St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in this country was 1737, in Boston. As the saying goes, on this day “everybody is Irish!” The Irish celebration doesn’t stop there. History, legends, traditions and food all interlinked when it comes to celebrating culture. Now, what is the first thing that comes to your mind (after shamrock, of course) when someone’s talking about St. Patrick’s Day? I can bet it is a Leprechaun. But what does a Leprechaun look like? A Leprechaun (Irish fairy) looks like a little old man. He’s about two feet tall and dresses like a shoemaker with a cocked hat and leather apron. A Leprechaun’s personality is described as aloof and unfriendly. They live alone and pass the time by making shoes. They’re special because they also possess a hidden pot of gold. If you listen closely for the sound of their hammer you might be able to capture one. If you do, you can force him (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal where he’s hidden his treasure. Be careful! Do not take your eyes off him, for if you do he will surely vanish and your hopes of finding his treasure will vanish with him. If you’re in the process of a job interview or some kind of oral presentation, my advice is to make a quick trip to Ireland and back. Oh, and don’t forget to visit Blarney Castle and kiss its stone. The origins of the Blarney Stone’s magical properties aren’t clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast the spell on the stone to reward the king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. It is tough to reach the Stone — it is located between the main castle wall and the parapet. Kissers have to lie on their back and bend backward and downward, holding iron bars for support. Good luck! Any St. Patrick’s Day celebration just wouldn’t be complete without good food to eat and a toast to good health and good friends. The question is, what should you put on your plate and pour in your glass? Most people, without a doubt, will eat an Irish stew or a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage. Corned beef is not an Irish dish, it is what Americans think the Irish eat. A more traditional meal would be ham and cabbage. Some say that in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day the traditional green beer is prominent. However, in Ireland, many years ago, St. Patrick’s Day was considered a holy day and pubs were not open for business. But don’t let it discourage you from the celebration that we’re all accustomed to. The original recipe for corned beef is calling for seven days of marinating the beef. Who has the time? To save some trouble, take an advantage of the sale on corned beef this month, cook a few slabs (recipe is on the package) and freeze them for the next time you’ve got a hankering for a Reuben sandwich, corned beef hash or some perk for your casserole or soup. If beef is not your favorite, Irish tradition calls for fish and chips. Fry any white fish dipped in thick beer batter in hot oil and serve it simply with salt and malt vinegar. Vegetarian? Here is a recipe of an Irish dish for you Colcannon 1 1/4 lbs. kale or green cabbage 2 cups of water 1 tbs of olive oil 1 1/4 lbs peeled and quartered potatoes 1 tbs chopped parsley 1 cup chopped leeks, white parts only 1 cup milk pinch of ground mice salt and pepper to taste 1�2 cup melted butter (use real butter!) Simmer kale or cabbage in two cups of water and oil for 10 minutes, drain and chop fine. Boil potatoes and water, simmer until tender. Simmer leeks in milk for 10 minutes, until tender. Drain and puree potatoes. Add leeks and milk and cooked cabbage. Mix well, add mace, salt and pepper. Mound on a plate, pour on melted butter. Garnish with parsley. While serving an Irish meal, don’t forget traditional Irish drinks: stout beer and Irish whiskey are the most favorable. Kids will love chilled black currant juice (and it’s good for them, too: it is loaded with vitamin C). If you want to show off, take 10 minutes to prepare this beverage. Green Leprechaun Punch 2 (3-ounce) packages lime flavored gelatin mix 1 quart hot water 1 can (46 fl oz) pineapple juice 2 cans (12 fl oz each) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed 2 cups white sugar 4 1�2 cups cold water 2 liters ginger ale In a large saucepan dissolve gelatin in 1 quart of hot water. Allow to cool. When gelatin is cool, pour into a large punch bowl. Stir in pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, sugar and cold water. Pour in ginger ale just before serving. Finish up your Irish celebration serve your guests a generous slice of: Irish Whiskey Pie 1 graham cracker crust (10-inch size) 5 egg yolks 3/4 cup sugar 1 envelope gelatin 1/4 cup cold water 1�2 cup Irish whiskey 1 1�2 cups heavy cream 2 tbs shaved chocolate (optional) Beat egg yolks until they are thick and lemon colored. Slowly beat in the sugar. Soften gelatin in water. Add 1/4 cup Irish whiskey over boiling water until gelatin dissolves. Add gelatin mixture into the egg yolks stirring quickly. Pour in remaining Irish whiskey. Add 1 cup of well whipped cream into the mixture. Pour filling into pie shell and chill. When filling is set, decorate with remaining whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate. For fun effect tint whipped cream a little green. Enjoy the spring! And as the Irish say, “May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you In the palm of his hand.” DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams