Irish Folklore


Leprechaun in a garden of shamrocksWe had every intention of writing an article on the Luck of the Irish, but apparently it is just a lot of malarkey, if you will. It isn't even found in Wikipedia. So with that said, we directed our focus on other Irish folklore, seeing as how March is Irish Heritage Month. And not wanting to leave anything of importance out, we decided to do a summary of the Irish folklore listed above.

If you're lucky enough to be Irish,
you're lucky enough!     
~Irish Saying

 
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Leprechauns and Irish folklore

... those mythical rascally little old men dressed in green who are up to no good; that is, creating as much mischief as they can dreamup. Some folks say it's the leprechauns who turn the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day every year.

Commonly known to be shoemakers (a derivative of the word leprechaun), Irish folklore has it that leprechauns are quite rich and horde their gold in crocks buried in the ground. According to more Irish folklore, if anyone keeps an eye fixed upon a leprechaun, he cannot escape, but the moment the gaze is withdrawn, poof! he vanishes.

Shamrocks - a part of Irish folklore

This is a three-leafed  Irish clover and the symbol of Ireland that was formerly used for medicinal purposes. It is also used as an emblem for sports, organizations, and a visual identification of Irish troops serving abroad. The shamrock was a popular motif during the Victorian Age and is commonly associated with St. Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17th. The rare four-leafed clovers are said to bring good luck. Perhaps this is where the "luck of the Irish" got it's roots.


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The Blarney Stone and Irish folklore

Not to be outdone by the shamrock, kissing the blarney stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab. In every day usage it has come to mean clever, flattering, or coaxing talk.


Celebrating Irish folklore

So how do we celebrate Irish Heritage Month? Well, included are:
  • Eating green eggs for breakfast
  • Corned beef and cabbage for dinner
  • Dancing the Irish jig

And 'tis said everybody's Irish on St Patrick's Day. We celebrate by:
  • The wearin' of the green
  • Parades
  • Drinking green beverage at the local pub


If visiting the local pub on St. Patty's day isn't your style:
  • Have a bingo party
  • Serve green punch
  • Pretzels
  • Green mints

And what would an article about Irish Folklore be without giving honorable mention to Irish tenors and Irish ditties. So here's a toast to Danny Boy, Molly Malone, and all you laddies and lassies in a buzzing kids world.

Irish Folklore Toasts Cheers Green Party Punch
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.

Wherever you go and
whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish
be there with you.
  Combine in large punch bowl:
  • 2 liters ginger ale
  • 1 lg. container frozen lemonade
  • 1 lg. can pineapple juice (chilled)
  • 1 qt. lime sherbet
Stir together. The lime sherbet melts and makes a
milky green punch with foam on top.

Well! Seems we found the Luck of the Irish in Irish folklore, after all. Cheers, everybody!