Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Welcome to Fascinating Facts and Tantalizing Trivia

A Hartson Dowd Column

 March 17, 2007

 MARCH 17^th is the day when those of us who are of Irish ancestry (and even many who are not) celebrate St Patrick’s Day, a day for the “wearing’ o’ the green.”

My father was of Irish background and he revelled in the celebrations of this day.  He was often seen wearing a bright green tie or sweater for the occasion and he even bought a Kelly green bowler hat that he wore with pride (in spite of the fact that it sent us children into gales of laughter).

Many people assume that the Irish wear green on St. Patrick’s Day because Ireland is called the “Emerald Isle.”  On fact, the real reason has been nearly forgotten now.  Hundreds of years ago, the people of Ireland burned green leaves and boughs in the spring.  The ashes were then spread over the fields in the belief that this would make the land richer.  Those who wear green on this day are honouring this ancient custom.

One of my father’s favourite Irish proverbs is also beloved by me:

May the road rise to meet you;

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the rain fall soft upon your fields until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.

Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.

He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.

His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.

Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.

Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.

Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick's Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.

St. Patrick’s Day Recipes for your family:

Jiggly Shamrocks

Prepare a pan of Jello Jigglers following the package directions. Use lime gelatin. Cut shamrocks out of set gelatin using shamrock cookie cutters. Using a can of whipped cream, squirt cream in middle of shamrock and decorate with gold cake-decorating sprinkles!

Irish Soda Bread

4 cups flour (unsifted)
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup seedless raisins
1 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter

Mix flour, soda, sugar and salt in large mixing bowl. Stir in raisins. Make a well in the mixture and pour in buttermilk. Stir until well blended. Knead dough 8 to 10 times on floured wax paper. Roll dough into a ball.

Use 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter to grease cookie sheet. Place dough ball on cookie sheet and pat into thick circle. Use floured knife to make an X on top of loaf (keeps loaf from cracking). Spread remaining butter on tops and sides of bread.

Bake loaf in preheated 375 degree oven for about 40 minutes. Check periodically to see if top of loaf is golden brown. Serve with butter and green mint jelly!

Shamrock Pudding

2 1/4 cups milk
3 T cornstarch
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla
Green food coloring to desired color

Scald two cups milk over double boiler. Mix cornstarch, sugar and salt together. Add 1/4 cup cold milk to dry ingredients. Stir until smooth. Add to hot milk and cook 15 minutes until mixture thickens, stirring often. Cool slightly and add vanilla. Chill. Top with cream if desired.

MAGIC LEPRECHAUN PIE

This is a recipe that the children can easily help with! Mix milk with pistachio pudding mix according to directions. Add Cool Whip and mix well. Let the children spoon the mixture into individual graham cracker crusts for little pies they will love. Refrigerate about 30 minutes.

LIME RIBBON DELIGHT

1 package white cake mix
1 package (3 oz.) lime-flavored gelatin
1 cup hot water
? cup fruit juice or water
? cup drained crushed pineapple
? cup chopped nuts
Few drops lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream
? cup confectioner's sugar

Bake cake in two round layer pans as directed on the package. Cool. Dissolve gelatin in hot water. Add fruit juice and chill until almost firm. Add pineapple, nuts and lemon juice. Place two strips of aluminum foil across the bottom of each layer pan, letting strips extend over edge. Replace cake layers, placing one layer back in pan upside down and the other right side up. (This will make a better looking cake when gelatin layers are put together.) Spoon the fruit gelatin over the two layers. Chill until firm. Whip cream with confectioner's sugar. Lift cake layers out of pans, using extended edges of foil. Stack layers gelatin side up. Frost sides with whipped cream.
Refrigerate until serving time. Decorate with miniature white clay pipes or shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day.

HOW TO BE MORE LUCKY

If you think luck’s something you’re born with, think again.  According to Azriela Jaffe, author of Create Your Own Luck, we all have the potential to bring luck into our lives.  There are three basic behaviors and attitudes that determine good fortune, or luck thereof, according to Jaffe.

Luck Builders expect fortunate things to happen to them.  And since they’re open to possibility, they’re more apt to recognize and seize opportunities.

Luck Blockers have built a wall around themselves that keeps luck out.  They avoid situations with a potential for good fortune by telling themselves, “Why should I?  Nothing ever good happens to me.”

Luck Busters have luck within their grasp, but ultimately let it go.  They often sabotage rewarding situations by telling themselves they don’t deserve rewards.

Fortunately, says Jaffe, no matter which behavior you are prone to, you can learn to attract good fortune by cultivating the attributes of a luck builder.

Keep an open mind.  Take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves and adopt an upbeat outlook.  Tell yourself you have absolutely nothing to lose.

Be goal-oriented.  Visualize yourself with what you want.  Focus on your goal and be willing to work hard until you get there.  Don’t expect too little, or that’s exactly what you will get.

Have patience – in the right dose.  “Lucky” people know that it is hard work. And not get-there-quick schemes, that pays off.  On the other hand, don’t get stuck in an unfilling situation just because it’s familiar and easy.  Know when to move on.

Hartson S. Dowd

hsdowd@telus.net