LUCK O' THE IRISH

BY BELINDA M. PASCHAL

It’s apparently of little import that legendary snake-chasing Irishman St. Patrick didn’t really purge the Emerald Isle of serpents and in fact, wasn’t even Irish, because every March 17, many Americans can be found in bars, taverns, clubs and pubs, hoisting mugs of lukewarm green beer in his name.

Depending on which source you trust, St. Patrick was born in Wales or Scotland, sometime between 340 and 387 AD, and while he accomplished many impressive feats, reptile extermination wasn’t one of them. That yarn was spun to explain the absence of snakes on the island and it’s certainly more colorful than the scientific truth: Ireland has always been snake-free, first because of the most recent ice age, and after that because the frigid seas surrounding the country prevented snakes from migrating.

The fact that the popular folktale is load of blarney doesn’t stop Americans – some Irish by heritage, others “Irish for a day” – from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with gusto. It’s been observed in Ireland as a quiet religious holiday for centuries, with many businesses closing for the day, but leave it to the U.S. to turn it into a boozy extravaganza! Irish immigrants in Boston first celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in 1737 and the first parade on record was held 25 years later in New York. By the late 19th century, the parade had become a way for Irish-Americans to show off their cultural pride, numerical strength and political might, a role it retains today.

For most of us, St. Paddy’s celebrations center around the color green – those unfortunate enough to get caught not heeding “the wearing of the green” – be it an article of clothing, a button or a shamrock – often find themselves on the receiving end of a stinging pinch!

However, blue, not green, was the original hue associated with the holiday. The change came some time in the mid-18th century, when it was considered a sign of Irish nationalism or loyalty to Roman Catholicism to adorn one’s clothing with a three-leafed shamrock. Over time, the three-leaf clover gave way to the four-leaf variety – considered lucky because of their rarity – that’s now a ubiquitous symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.

Good luck is something we all can use, so if you want to up the ante and boost your chances of having an extra-fortunate St. Paddy’s Day, there are several “charms” you can rely on, in addition to four-leaf clovers.

Rabbits and hares are associated with spring, a time of blooming flowers, fertility and plentiful crops, so seeing the long-eared critters hopping through the fields was a sign of luck to come. Consequently, the foot of a rabbit has long been considered a lucky amulet, though the rabbit population undoubtedly would dispute this belief.

Another universally recognized bringer of blessings is the horseshoe. In days of yore, many people, including my grandmother, hung a horseshoe in their homes to attract good luck for the family residing there. Others hung the shoes on the doorframe to invite good fortune inside.

Almost all forms of currency have at least one superstition associated with them. The most common is the belief that finding a penny on the ground, especially if it’s heads-up, will bring good fortune, hence the rhyme, "Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long, you'll have good luck."

Rainbows also are considered lucky and if you happen upon a real one, be sure to follow the prismatic arc to its end, because as everyone knows, there’ll be a pot of gold waiting for you. Sure, you might have to grapple with an ill-tempered leprechaun to get it, but hello – it’s gold!

Many people designate their own lucky items. It could be the socks you were wearing the night you met your true love or the shirt you sport at every bowling night. Whatever trinkets, talismans and charms you choose, be sure to give a tip o’ the hat to St. Patrick on March 17 by displaying at least one shamrock for the day. But remember: Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck.