Björn Olsson
Bartender
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Spring is approaching. Soon you'll be seeing a lot of green. We mean green beer, of course, and other festive drinks, because St. Patrick's day comes in mid-March. A day to remember for all lovers of Irish culture as well as those just those looking for a good reason to party.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds all over the world.
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the holiday honoring him falls on March 17th. St. Patrick's Day is a religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. Traditionally on St. Patrick's Day, Irish families would attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against meat consumption were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast.
But not in pubs. Up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Then, in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as a way to increase tourism and invite the world to Ireland. Now it has become a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor plays, fireworks and other festive events throughout the country.
There are many stories and tall tales associated with St. Patrick, including one the famous story in which he banished all the snakes from Ireland.
The facts we know are that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. He turned to his religion for comfort. And after more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped.
By his own account, the voice of God's spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. Back in Britain, he spent fifteen years training for the priesthood. He was eventually sent back to Ireland to minister to Christians already living there and to begin to convert the Irish.
He knew the Irish language and culture well. He chose to combine traditional Irish rituals and his lessons of Christianity. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honouring their gods with fire. Some say it was he who added a sun to the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that the Irish people would praise it more naturally.
St. Patrick may have herded the snakes out of Ireland, but he wasn't responsible for the first St. Patrick's Day parade. That historic event took place in the New World. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762 playing traditional Irish music. The parade was repeated the next year and gradually expanded. Now each year's St. Patrick's Day Parade is a show of strength and source of pride for Irish-Americans, of which there are plenty!
Irish coffees are of course extra popular on St. "Paddy's" Day, and some bars serve green pints of Stout (Green Pint = the bartender puts some green food dye in the glass before he pulls it). The head of the pint as well as the Irish Coffees are also sometimes decorated with a shamrock. The national symbol of Ireland, it is a small three-leaf clover plant -- though once in a while you'll find a four-leaf clover, if you're lucky. And on St. Patrick's day, the Irish usually are.
Here are some traditional toasts from the Irish book for your own party.
May God bring good health to your enemy's enemies.
May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.
May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.
Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100-year-old oaks, which I will plant tomorrow.
May the sons of your daughters smile up in your face.
Health, and long life to you,
Land without rent to you,
The partner of your heart to you,
and when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland!
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.
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