Daily Archives: March 17, 2024

Today we celebrate St. Patrick’s day.  Or, perhaps, some readers are regretting that they celebrated a little too much last night.  Whatever your situation, you or probably someone you know is proudly wearing the green.  We’re all a bit Irish today, aren’t we?

My mother was an English war bride.  But what many people in the US don’t realize, that many English natives have Irish ancestry, too.  While nearly five million Irish immigrated to the US during the Great Potato Famine and the years that followed, nearly one fourth of all Americans have some Irish background. That is a huge amount.  No wonder we’re all celebrating.

My mother always kept some Irish traditions going.  As kids, we always wore the green to avoid getting an Irish pinch on the special day.  There was sure to be cabbage with our corned beef for supper.  Maybe an old-fashioned pudding for dessert. 

She kept the legends of leprechauns and brownies alive, and they would be blamed if the milk got spilled or a button fell off.  I still like to carry on these family stories a bit myself.  Years ago, I purchased this little pair of leprechauns and told my boys that they symbolize the mischievous characters around here. I always drag them out this time of year.  Probably much to my sons’ annoyance but, well, it’s my choice. 

This past weekend, my granddaughter built a little fairy hut for the leprechauns.  Some twigs and sticks, leathery magnolia leaves and a seed pod, plus a snail shell and some green Irish moss.  Funny how the little guys found their way outside to enjoy a pipe and ray of sunshine.

Let us all be proud of our heritage today and always.  We all come from somewhere and bring our unique traditions, food, song and culture to this amazing melting pot.  Enjoy your day. Watch out for pinches.