Monday 17 March 2014

Enjoy the crack!

Well blessing be upon you and your houses and beggora if it tisn't Mondaytide once again. But more than this, me fair folk, as it will have no doubt not escaped your knowledge, tis also being Paddy's Day.

Ahh yes, The day to celebrate the Blessed Saint Patrick, or as we English use it, an excuse to wear silly hats and get drunk on Guiness. I'm pretty sure this is the only reason we have taken to the Irish celebratory day so keenly. It seems like we will embrace any excuse to get drunk on a theme. (like we need an excuse!) Yet despite this, our very own patron Saint, Saint George, doesn't even get a look in on the 23rd of April. You see, I think, if we are going to take Saint Patrick under our wing for an excuse to enjoy 'the crack'. Why not start making a big fuss about Saint George as well, then we'll have another excuse to act foolish and wear silly hats in about a months time as well.

Still, today is all about Saint Patrick, who let's not forget, was actually an Englishman from Cumbria. Who at the age of sixteen was taken as slave to Ireland where he lived for six years before he managed to escape. He then became a bishop and only returned to Ireland many, many years later. Where amongst other things he did, was a missionary and converted lots of the 'well to do' ladies into becoming nuns, as well as using a clover leaf to illustrate the holy trinity. Then to top it all off, also apparently banished all snakes from Ireland. Which it has to be said, was probably quite an easy task, as there never has been any indigenous species of snake in Ireland anyway.

But why should Saint Patrick get all the glory? I mean Ireland has two other patron Saint's that we hear nothing about! Saint Brigit and Saint Columba, who never even get a mention! Saint Brigit was a nun who founded a great many monasteries and worked many miracles in her time, including healing the sick and feeding the poor, and let's not forget she was actually Irish by birth! As for Saint Columba, he too was an Irishman, who also founded loads of monasteries, then skipped across the sea in later life to go and convert the Scots with his twelve friends, before returning home much later in life to write a few hymns. I mean they both seem like good candidates to celebrate as well, plus they have the advantage of actually being Irish!

Still, however you decide to mark Saint Patrick's Day, do enjoy the crack!

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