The Top o' the Mornin' to you. And the rest of the day to yourself. Leprechauns The leprechaun is a solitary creature avoiding contact with mortals and other leprechauns--indeed the whole fairy tribe. He pours all of his passion into the concentration of carefully making shoes....they also possess a hidden pot of gold. A leprechaun can always be found with a shoe in one hand and a hammer in the other. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor's eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes instantly and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost. Most leprechauns are ugly, stunted creatures, they look like a small, old man, (about 2 feet tall) . But they are broad and bulky, with faces like dried apples. They have a mischievous light in their eyes and their bodies, despite their stubbiness, usually move gracefully. A Little bit about Shamrocks Shamrock , common name for any of several three-leaf clovers native to Ireland . The shamrock was originally chosen as the national emblem of Ireland because of the legend that Saint Patrick used the plant to show the doctrine of the Trinity. Most shamrocks, have been considered by the Irish as good-luck symbols since earliest times, and this superstition has lasted in modern times among people of many nationalities. Shamrocks are worn by celebrants on St. Patrick's Day. The Shamrock, at one time called the "Seamroy", symbolises the cross and blessed trinity. Before the Christian era it was a sacred plant of the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad. The well known legend of the Shamrock connects it definitely to St. Patrick and his teaching. The Blarney Stone The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney). The castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) -- its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by Cromwellians and William III's troops). Thousands of tourists a year still visit the castle. The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a 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's tough to reach the stone -- it's 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. Can you imagine kissing something that has had people's lips all over it for 500 years? The Burren The Burren, Irish for "gray rocky place," is 50 square miles of great irregular slabs of limestone with deep cracks. Located in County Clare, this humid, eerie moonscape is a natural rock garden, where plants native to the Arctic thrive next to subtropical flora. Beneath the scarred surface are spectacular caves and streams. St. Patrick's Day, The Holiday Saint Patrick's Day, the feast day of Ireland's patron saint observed on March 17, has evolved into an annual celebration of the Irish. On Saint Patrick's Day, Irish communities in many cities have parades. People often dress in green, symbolic of the lush, green landscape of Ireland. History of St. Patrick True history and legend are intertwined when it comes to St. Patrick. Patrick, Saint (389?-461?), called the Apostle of Ireland, Christian prelate. His birthplace is uncertain, but it was probably in southwestern Britain; his British name was Succat. At 16 years of age he was carried off by Irish raiders and passed his captivity as a herdsman near the mountain Slemish in county Antrim (according to tradition) or in county Connacht (Connaught). The young herdsman saw visions in which he was urged to escape, and after six years of slavery he did so, to the northern coast of Gaul. Ordained a priest, possibly by Saint Germanus, at Auxerre, he returned to Ireland. Sometime after 431, Patrick was appointed successor to St. Palladius, first bishop of Ireland. Patrick put his efforts into on the west and north of Ireland, establishing his parish at Armagh. Patrick's two surviving works are written in Latin and show his knowledge of the Vulgate(Latin) translation of the Bible. In one of these works, the Confessions, Patrick portrays himself as an simple man in an unequal contest with the powerful and learned followers of church doctrine during his time. His reported use of the shamrock as an example of the Trinity led to its being regarded as the Irish national symbol. A strange chant of his, called the Lorica, is preserved in the Liber Hymnorum (Book of Hymns), and what was to have been a handbell he used during Mass is shown in the National Museum in Dublin. The Claddagh Legend has it that a goldsmith named Richard was captured by pirates and taken as a slave. His bride to be was as heartbroken as he. The Claddagh Ring was created by him out of his love for the woman he couldn't forget. At the center of the ring is a heart, symbolizing their love. Atop the heart a crown, symbolizing loyalty. Two hands hold the heart, symbolizing friendship. After eight years in captivity, he escaped and returned to his native village of Claddagh. She had never married and he gave the ring he had made, with so much love, to her. They were never separated. The Proper way to wear the Claddagh There are many different directions on how to wear the Claddagh ring. The following is the one I liked best. When worn on the right hand with the heart away from you: your heart is availible. When worn on the right hand with the heart towards you: your heart is open to someones' love. Worn on the left hand, with the heart towards you: your heart is spoken for by the love who gave you the ring. I is for Integrity R is for Respect that is shown for one another E is for Endurance and never giving up L is for Laughter for all the fun of growing up A is for Admiration for others N is for New found friends D is for Devotion to our community   url: http://geocities.datacellar.net/bettyannet/StPat_history.html Date Modified: 05-18-01