the morphing of tradition

Happy St. Patrick's Day: March 17th

A few fun facts to celebrate the holiday (courtesy of Wikipedia)

• The original color used to celebrate St. Patties day was blue!
• St. Patrick, according to legend, was said to have used the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity- therefore this symbol is most well known for its association with the holiday
• St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Ireland
• Although originally a Catholic holiday, it is mostly celebrated today as a cultural celebration of the Irish
• Because it is a religious holiday but often falls during certain special days during the season of Lent, sometimes St. Patrick's day is "moved"
• St. Patrick's doesn't fall again on a Holy Week until 2160!
• The Chicago river is dyed green each year in celebration (and has done so since 1962) and the White House Fountain was dyed green for both 2009 and 2010 to celebrate!
• St. Patrick was supposedly kidnapped by Irish raiders (he was from a wealthy family of deacons) at the age of 16 and put in prison in Ireland- (because he was told by God in a dream to break free) after breaking out of captivity, he felt it was his calling to become a priest- he returned to Ireland to convert them from their pagan ways

Hope yours is safe and happy.  Now, who came up with Corned Beef and cabbage?