Erin Go Bragh, Y'all! (or for us English speakers--Ireland Forever!!)

'Tis the month of St. Patty, where everything in sight turns ridiculous shades of green in honor of this March 17th Holiday, named for St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.....Green Hair, green beer, green eggs and ham...and don't forget, if you don't wear green on St. Patrick's day, you are subject to the customary "pinch!".....green, green, green.....but did you know:

• The original color associated with St. Patrick was blue.   
• St. Patrick used the shamrock as a way to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people in the year 432.
• It is a religious observance, and was not celebrated as a public holiday in Ireland until 1903.
• The official St. Patrick's Feast Day was first celebrated in the early 1700's, as the lifting of the lenten restriction on eating and drinking. ( and now, as a reason to get wild and crazy :)
• The first St. Patrick's Day festival in Ireland was held on March 17, 1993, and was approved by the Government of the Republic of Ireland as a way to promote Ireland, and it's culture.

St. Patty's Day is now celebrated in many countries around the would, even though, in the US, it's not really an official holiday.  But alas, official or not, many people look forward to any reason to enjoy this colorful revery.  Some interesting factoids:

• In Savannah Georgia, every fountain within the city limits is dyed green, and there is a huge parade, with over 450,000 spectators every year.  Savannah's Irish version of Mardi Gras has party goers celebrating on River Street until the wee hours of the night!
• Chicago dyes it's river green.
• In Venice Italy, they celebrate the Festa Irlandese'--10 days of live music, food, and drink.  Those Italians know how to party!!!!
• In Moscow, Irish bars contribute huge floats and even showcase the large Irish Wolfhounds as part of their local parade.
• Munich is the only city in Germany that celebrates St. Patrick's Day.
• Guinness is the drink of choice, (although I've certainly celebrated with green Margaritas, and that was just fine, as I'm not a beer drinker!--Uh oh, does that mean that I get my Irish membership revoked??) and the most common St. Patty's day meal in the US is corned beef and cabbage, although, historically, this is an American meal.

So, this week, put on your green, party like a leprechaun, and enjoy being one of us Irish people for a day! We welcome all to our celebration, or as we say in Gaelic, "Failte" (pronounced, Fall-cha!) which means, Welcome All!