Why Green on St. Patrick's Day and Some Holiday Blarney

Certainly the color for St. Patrick's Day is green. I've never given it much thought, just took it for granted. This week I wondered why? I decided to do a bit of research and am sharing it with you here. 

St. Patrick's Day was originally a Roman Catholic holiday celebrating Ireland's patron saint and observed only in Ireland. March 17 was the saint's religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. While Lent prohibited the consumption of meat, for the day, this restriction was waived, and people could dance, drink and feast. The traditional meal was Irish bacon and cabbage, later bacon was replaced by less expensive corned beef.

It was not until the 1700s, when Irish immigrants in the U.S. started the first St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City, that the holiday became popular outside of Ireland. 

Blue was originally the color associated with the holiday, but over time, green took over in popularity, because of Ireland's nickname “The Emerald Isle,” the green in Ireland's flag, and the clover used by Saint Patrick to explain Christianity, the clover representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit. Although there is no historical evidence of Saint Patrick's connection with the Shamrock, his image is almost always shown with him holding the three-leaf clover.

The colors on Ireland's flag symbolize the Catholic side of the country with the color green, the Protestants with orange, and white representing the unity of the two. 

If you forget to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, you might just get pinched. St. Patrick's revelers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns and fairies, who would pinch everyone they could see, that is anyone not wearing green. People began pinching those who didn't wear green as a reminder the leprechauns and fairies could sneak up at any time. 

My favorite phrase is "Kiss Me, I'm Irish." It is a reference to the Blarney stone. Kissing the Blarney stone brings good luck. If you can't kiss the stone, the next best chance of getting good luck is "kissing an Irish person."

“Everyone is Irish” in the U.S. on St. Patrick's Day, as we celebrate with parades, green beer, and lots of shamrock decorations!  From its religious beginnings to a fun party, there is something for everyone to enjoy on St. Patrick's day.

This weekend Hodge Podge Art, Antiques, and Interiors in downtown Monroe, celebrates the holiday with its 3rd annual “Anything Green” sale. All items with the color green in them are 10% off regular price, plus many dealers will have a pot o' gold discount on other items. While there won't be corn beef and cabbage, sweet treats will be served to all who visit. Saturday you can dance a jig to the music of Chris and Stephanie Dills. There will be a drawing for a 'green' prize on Sunday. The holiday celebration runs from Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17.

Join the fun in Monroe this St. Patrick's Day weekend. Check the Monroe Patch calendar of events to see what other celebrations and special shop discounts are planned. Refer back to this Patch article for more information on St. Patrick's Day.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to wear your green. You'd hate to be pinched by leprechauns!