Photo credit: www.irishoakforests.com
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is a bit of a mystery. Many myths and stories of his early life swirl about, including the tale of Patrick ridding the Emerald Isle of all its snakes. That myth has been debunked, put down to hundreds of years of, shall we say, overly colourful storytelling. Imagine that, the Irish, telling a colourful story! Well, personally, I’m glad the snake is not associated with the celebrations, ’cause it’s hard to find snake meat around these here parts.
It was always a religious holiday in Ireland. The day, March 17th, marks the day of the saint’s death in the 5th century. Because the date falls right in the middle of lent, this day was like a get-out-of-jail-free card. Church was attended in the morning, then all bets were off–just for one day–with drinking, music making, dancing, and feasting on traditional dishes, such as bacon and cabbage. The next day, it was back to lent. It wasn’t until it was brought to the New World that it became an excuse to go a little crazy, wear green, and be Irish for a day. According to Patrick McMurray, owner of the authentically Irish pub, Ceili Cottage, in Toronto, “St.Paddy’s is not hugely celebrated in Ireland. Tends to be an “away” thing. Something the ex-pats, and those who emigrated, whether by choice or not, celebrate to remind them of their heritage.” However, in 1995, the Irish government decided to market the day as a tourist attraction, and now the day is celebrated as far afield as Japan and Russia!
And what is it all about here? Green beer, greasy pub grub–Irish nachos?–and extreme excess. Fine
if you’re a 21-year-old frat boy with a cast-iron stomach and the taste
buds of a goat. But we’re smarter than that, non? A tad more
sophistimecated? Not to mention, our guts can’t take that kind of abuse
anymore. Still, I believe, on St. Patrick’s day, we’re all at least a little bit Irish. So let’s celebrate by calling family and friends around the table to share a pot of Guinness-braised lamb shanks, buttery champ, Irish soda bread, mussels steamed in cider, and a few fantastic organic ales, micro-brews, and an Irish staple, Guinness. Even better, break out yer fiddle, or at the very least, pop some Celtic tunes into the CD player and get yer kitchen ceili on!
Slainte! That would be cheers to the uninitiated. And just so you’ll be ready when you raise your pint o’Guinness, here are a few delightful Irish toasts.
“May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold.”
“Here’s to your coffin; may it be built of 100-hundred-year-old oaks, that I will plant tomorrow!”
“May God bring good health to your enemies enemies!”
And one of my all time favourites; “May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you’re dead!”
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