'Tis a Fine Day to Be Wearin' the Green...
We're going to try and lighten the load somewhat today, and attempt to put aside most of the global angst we've been subjected to for some time now.
So, without ANY further ado...
Yes, boys & girls...today is none other than:
Lá Fhéile Pádraig...!
And no, this is not a "WTF?" moment...
It's Gaelic for ST. PATRICK'S DAY, don'cha know?
Now here's the WIKI on the whole gig...no blarney here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick
A rather lengthy history, but well deserved.
St. Patrick was born to the "purple" but at 16 was kidnapped to Ireland (from Britain) where, in a dream, God told him to flee his captivity and return to Britain.
After doing so, he returned to Ireland to Christianize the Irish from their native polytheism, and legend tells he used the SHAMROCK to explain the TRINITY of God to the Irish people. And then there was that "snake" thing...
Well, that's his life in a nutshell, but it didn't end there.
The color green came about because of the shamrock...originally, St. Patrick was associated with the color BLUE.
St. Patrick's Day was celebrated as early as the 9th and 10th centuries, so you know it goes WAY back.
Today, it's pretty much celebrated around the world from the homeland of Ireland to the USA, to Argentina, to Seoul, Korea (and quite a few more countries).
Protestants used to don ORANGE as their way to "protest" against the Irish Catholics, so you really didn't want to go walking about in Dublin wearing orange, especially on St. Pat's Day.
((WARNING - HISTORY ALERT - YOU MAY LEARN SOMETHING))
-- Protestant Irish have been known as "orange" ever since 1690 when William of Orange (William III), the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, defeated King James II, a Roman Catholic, in the Battle of the Boyne near Dublin.
William’s victory would ensure Protestant military dominance on the island and has been a source of tension ever since. Although the "Orange" in William’s name actually referred to a province in southern France, the color reference stuck. This is why orange now appears in the Irish flag – to symbolize the Protestant minority in Ireland.
-- The New York parade has not only become the largest Saint Patrick's Day parade in the world but it is also the oldest civilian parade in the world. In a typical year, around 150,000 marchers participate in it, including bands, firefighters, military and police groups, county associations, emigrant societies, and social and cultural clubs, and 2 million spectators line the streets. The parade marches up the 1.5 mile route along 5th Avenue in Manhattan, is a five hour procession, and is always led by the U.S. 69th Infantry Regiment.
The Commissioner of the parade always asks the Commanding Officer if the 69th is ready, to which the response is, "The 69th is always ready." New York politicians - or those running for office - are always found prominently marching in the parade. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch once proclaimed himself "Ed O'Koch" for the day, and he continued to don an Irish sweater and march every year up until 2003, even though he was no longer in office.
-- Ironically, as I mentioned above, St. Patrick himself would have been surprised by all of the fuss. Patrick wasn’t even Irish; he came to Celtic Ireland as a British missionary. But more importantly, Patrick did most of his work in the 5th century at a time when Christians were simply Christians, long before any division between Roman Catholics and Protestants.
But, if you HAVE to wear ORANGE, you might get "pinched"...it's a tradition...lol.
Then...there's the FOOD and DRINK (my favorite). Yeah, we're talking Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef and Cabbage, and naturally...GUINNESS!
(damn shame the missus doesn't like any of that)
I love it all...and I'm about as Irish as the late Vince Lombardi...LOL.
(I'm also METHODIST)
I grew up around lots of Irish folk...damn fine people, too.
We had neighbors in Philly...Irish as the day was long...named QUINN (big surprise, hmm?), and every one of them was salt o' the earth people (they had FIVE kids...all went to parochial school - talk about the COST of education, even in the mid-sixties).
The kids were ALL well-mannered, and the parents were as blue-collar as they come...but you never knew it.
We tended to have a lot more REAL families back then, and every damn one of them had a lot more PRIDE in WHO THEY WERE.
Parents were willing to make WHATEVER sacrifice so the kids could have better and BE better.
That wasn't a mere whim either...that was SOP for everyone, no matter WHAT your religion, or nationality was.
I know I'll be wearing green...I pretty much do most days (woodland camo counts, right?), and I'll be dialing up the CLASSICAL station in town to hear some of the FANTASTIC music associated with this day, from the likes of James Galway, the Chieftains, and whatever Irish tenor they toss at me.
Hell, I might even put on an ENYA CD...!
(oh yes, her last name is RYAN, and she IS Irish)
Then there's CELTIC WOMEN...(ahhh...be still me beatin' heart)
As for movies, there's got to be THE QUIET MAN w/ John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara...best damn Irish move ever with a great title song (Isle of Innisfree).
-- In closing today, as I usually like to do, allow me to leave you with a few Irish prayers and blessing...in keepin' with the theme:

** May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

** 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!


** May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

** May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

** May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

** May you be buried in a casket made from the wood of a 100 year old oak
That I shall plant tomorrow.

And my personal favorite...

** May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

And may ye all be havin' yourselves a grand day.
For today...everyone's Irish.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.