Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all my Leprechauns! Today we Celebrate the Irish Culture. We will wear Green, watch Leprechaun movies, drink some festive libations, and eat delicious Irish Cuisines. Today we will be exploring the Culture of Ireland, re-discovering a Saint, learning how to make some Irish Dishes, and watch some videos and movies that relate to the Holiday. I hope you will join me as we Venture into Ireland.
- Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle, this is because of its lush greenery and rolling hills. The country receives a lot of rain each year, which keeps the grass green and the plants blooming.
- The country’s major exports include food products such as potatoes, lamb and beef. They also export a large amount of zinc, lead, machinery and pharmaceuticals. Their imports include oil, aircraft parts, vehicles, and petroleum gases.
- Ireland runs under democratic nation and established their present constitution in 1937.
- Northern Ireland is governed by the United Kingdom, while the rest of Ireland is an independent nation.
- Ireland is known throughout the world for its vast amount of castles. Ireland’s history is dotted with wars and violence, so castles were built to protect families from invaders. Today, most of the castles are still standing and some can even be visited by tourists.
- Irish people speak English, but Irish school children are still taught Irish, which is a Gaelic language.
- Most Irish people believe that fairies exist. In their culture, fairies have magical powers and bring happiness and great things to families.
- Any person who is born on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland is considered to be very lucky.
- Leprechauns are a huge part of Irish tradition. In Irish folklore, they are tiny men who can fit on top of your shoulder. They are completely harmless, and are believed to have buried numerous pots of gold throughout Ireland.
- Guinness Beer is widely popular in Ireland. It first originated in the country, and can be found throughout the country in Pubs and grocery stores.
- Over 80% of Ireland’s people are Roman Catholic.
- The Celtic cross and shamrock are both associated with Ireland, but the national symbol is actually the harp. (Nation Facts) https://nationfacts.net/ireland-facts/
The Irish National Anthem (English) — John McDermott
“Amhrán na bhFiann” or in English, “A Soldier’s Song”
The shamrock, a small clover which is now the national flower of Ireland, was an important symbol to the ancient Irish Druids as a plant naturally displaying the triad with its three heart-shaped leaves. (Ireland Calling) https://ireland-calling.com/shamrock/
101 Facts About Ireland
To learn more about Ireland please click the link. https://www.ireland.com/en-us/
Who was Saint Patrick?
St. Patrick was never canonized a saint by the Catholic Church
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral Mar 11, 2019 https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/patrickroberts/st-patrick-never-canonized-saint-catholic
St. Patrick is a saint in name only.
As writer Ken Concannon stated: “There was no formal canonization process in the Church during its first millennium. In the early years of the Church, the title saint was bestowed first upon martyrs, and then upon individuals recognized by tradition as being exceptionally holy during their lifetimes.”
“Consequently, these Irish saints, including St. Patrick, were never actually formally canonized — save one. The exception was Fergal, also known as St. Virgil of Salzburg, an 8th-century missionary scholar who was officially canonized in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX. Virgil is one of only four Irish saints to be canonized by Rome.”
“There was no formal process for canonization in place when Patrick died. He was proclaimed a saint by popular acclaim, probably with the approval of a bishop. The official process for canonization did not come until about the 12th century.”
Patrick was actually the grandson of a priest back when marriage for clerics was not frowned upon. His genius was bringing together the old pagan traditions and the new religion together in harmony in Ireland in the 5th century.
Patrick was the first major figure to reject slavery and for that alone he deserves proper canonization. (Irish Central)
What are Leprechauns?
Here are some facts about leprechauns.
1. According to the book “The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures,” by John and Caitlin Matthews, the leprechaun legend can be traced back to eighth-century tales of water spirits called “luchorpán,” meaning small body. The legend eventually evolved into a mischievous household fairy said to haunt cellars and drink heavily.
2. Leprechauns are shoemakers. Some researchers claim that the word leprechaun came from the Irish ‘leath bhrogan,’ meaning shoemaker, said to be the sprites’ main vocation.
3. If you happen to come across a leprechaun, be sure to hold on to him. According to Irish legends, people lucky enough to capture a leprechaun can barter his freedom for three wishes. But dealing with a leprechaun can be a tricky proposition.
4. A leprechaun is a trickster figure who cannot be trusted. Folklorist Carol Rose offers a typical tale of leprechaun trickery in her encyclopedia “Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins,” it concerns “a man who managed to get a leprechaun to show him the bush in the field where his treasure was located. Having no spade [shovel], the man marked the tree with one of his red garters, then kindly released the sprite and went for a spade. Returning almost instantly he found that every one of the numerous trees in the field sported a red garter!”
5. Like most fairies, leprechauns have a distinctive sound associated with them. While the Irish banshee can be identified by a mournful wail, leprechauns are recognized by the tap-tap-tapping of a tiny cobbler hammer, driving nails into shoes, that announces they are near.
6. Leprechauns are always male. In the 1825 book “Fairy Legends” noted that “Leprechauns seem to be entirely male and solitary. They are often described as bearded old men dressed in green and wearing buckled shoes. Sometimes they wear a pointed cap or hat and may smoke a pipe.
7. Leprechauns weren’t always dressed in green. Early tales of the creatures reported red clothing.
8. In his collection of Irish fairy and folk tales, W.B. Yeats offered an 18th-century poem by William Allingham titled “The Lepracaun; Or, Fairy Shoemaker.” It describes the tapping sound of the sprite:
“Lay your ear close to the hill.
Do you not catch the tiny clamour,
Busy click of an elfin hammer,
Voice of the Lepracaun singing shrill
As he merrily plies his trade?”
9. One of the most recognizable leprechauns in popular culture is Lucky the Leprechaun, the mascot of the General Mills breakfast cereal Lucky Charms. On the other end of the pop culture spectrum, you have the homicidal Lubdan from the “Leprechaun” horror/comedy film series.
Lucky Charms History
* Lucky Charms cereal debuted in 1964 with oat pieces in shapes of bells, fish, arrowheads, clovers and X’s and green clovers, pink hearts, orange stars and yellow moons marshmallows.
* The cereal was created by product developer John Holahan. He developed the original prototype based on Cheerios cereal pieces and chopped up pieces of his favorite candy – Circus Peanuts.
* Lucky the leprechaun debuted in 1964 with one of the most expensive advertising roll-outs to that date featuring full color ads in Sunday comics and comic books plus animated ads featuring the charmin’ leprechaun.
* In 1967, a kiss of sugar frosting was added to the oat pieces.
* In 1983, purple horseshoes were added.
Leprechauns are a morality tale figure. The legend warns against greed and the folly of trying to get rich quick.
Recipes for Saint Patrick’s day
The recipes in the video
Irish Beef Hand Pies https://www.marthastewart.com/317055/irish-beef-hand-pies
Irish Beef and Stout Stew https://www.marthastewart.com/316991/irish-beef-and-stout-stew
Slow-Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage https://www.marthastewart.com/891899/slow-cooker-corned-beef-and-cabbage
Potato Salad https://www.marthastewart.com/1004538/potato-salad
Bacon and Cabbage Pie https://donalskehan.com/recipes/bacon-and-cabbage-pie/
IRISH SODA BREAD https://thestayathomechef.com/irish-soda-bread/
Saint Patrick’s Day movies
The last Leprechaun 1998
Ethel and Tommy Barrick are sent to Ireland to spend the summer with their new stepmother. Once there, they discover her to be an evil, power-seeking witch, with real magical powers and a hatred for all things green.
Darby o’Gill and the little people 1959
Disney Production
A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker. To watch this great Classic Film, Please click the link.
https://fmovies.to/film/darby-ogill-and-the-little-people.v5yl6/xr5vq4w
Leprechaun’s Gold 1949
A song-filled Noveltoon featuring the antics of the Irish Leprechauns during their annual gold-washing ceremony. It depicts the wee people of Ireland who flavor its traditions with laughs and legend.
Leapin’ Leprechauns 1995
A man tries to build a theme park on top of land that’s secretly the home to friendly Leprechauns.
Spellbreaker Secret Of The Leprechauns (Leapin’ Leprechauns 2) 1996
Fairyhill Ireland is a place filled with mysteries and legends,Leprechauns and Magic. And for an American Kid like Mike Dennehy, it’s a world of wonderous adventure. Vacationing in Fairyhill for the summer, Mike makes friends with a fascinating group of rather unlucky leprechaunsby Nula, Queen of the Dead – an unbelievably beautiful and sinister witch. can the Queen destroy centuries of Leprechaun power? Will evil triumph? Gather up your lucky charms (you’ll need them!) and get ready for Spellbreaker, the adventure of Mike’s lifetime… and yours!
St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin 2016
There you have it! Saint Patrick’s Day Facts, Recipes, Facts about Ireland, and Movies. I hope you have not only Enjoyed this post, but maybe even learned something new. I have enjoyed gathering this information for you all. I hope to see you again very soon! Please feel free to; Share, Like, Comment, and Subscribe to my Page.
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