Will I be wearing "Green" today? (giveaway too!)

There is a giveaway at the END...don't miss out!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Day (or Feast of St. Patrick) is a cultural and religious holiday in Ireland. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. But over the years the color green grew to be associated with St. Patrick's Day. Green ribbons and shamrocks are worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day and that dates back as early as the 17th century. Saint Patrick used the shamrock, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing of shamrocks and shamrock designs has become a staple of celebrating the day.

Americans took the holiday and ran with it! For instance...if you don't wear green you get pinched! There are parades with Leprechauns, green beer, green rivers...green everything. The Irish celebrate differently than Americans, there is a 5 day "festival", they have parades, the religious go to Mass and on the last day of the celebration they drink beer at their local pub and dance the night away.

When diving into my own family history, I found that on both sides of my family we have Irish ancestry. But, as in real Irish tradition, I do not wear green on this day, when I was a kid I did and so did my kid...but now I don't. While doing my family history I asked several people who live in Ireland if they wear green the most given answer was no. I even had one write back that said, "Real Irish do not wear green on St. Patrick's day" So am I a party pooper? No...and nor am I from the religions that celebrate St. Patrick, but I respect their traditions and values. Does it mean that ALL Irish do not wear green? No. That is where the shamrock comes in.  They pick a bouquet of shamrocks and carry them to mass, the men wear a shamrock on their lapels, and some wear green ribbons.

However...I do believe there are more than a few over there, that have adapted the American celebration and do wear green, funny sunglasses, outrageous hats and they have a grand old time.
So...how can you find a real Irish person on St. Patrick's day in America? They will be the ones not wearing green! LOL! But in keeping with the "Spirit" of the American tradition and the Irish tradition I leave you with this:

Source for Leprechaun:  http://montelena.com/news/food/happy-st-patricks-day/

Source for banner: http://green.mst.edu/2012/03/happy-st-patricks-day.html

It's Dawn's over at Leroy Lime, birthday month and to celebrate...there is a fabulous giveaway!  Be sure to go over to her PAGE and wish her a Happy Birthday...but before you go...ENTER! YAY!

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