St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day

This Sunday, we’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. While it might not be high on everyone’s list of holidays, I want to take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a fun, loving and fun-loving day.

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated every March 17, is a religious feast day marking the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century. There is a great deal of folklore surrounding St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Ironically, although he is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures, the actual details of his life remain a mystery. The famous account of his banishing all of the snakes from Ireland is false. (But it’s such a great story!) What we do know for sure is that he helped Christianize Ireland.

The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for more than a thousand years, and many other countries have followed suit. Our family was fortunate to be at New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade a couple of years ago, and I was amazed at how long the parade was and how many intoxicated people we saw stumbling around. (I’m getting old.) It certainly was festive and exciting.

So I’ll make this suggestion today:  Take a cue from our Irish friends, and assume a lighter approach to life. Have some fun. Eat some corned beef and cabbage. Wear green. Dance a little, drink a little and be happy. Enjoy yourself and spread that joy around!

Happy St. Patty’s Day to you! May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

Being in New York City on St. Patrick’s Day is a great memory I’ll never forget. What is your favorite St. Patty’s Day experience?