Tree Talk: When Irish eyes are smiling

Are you seeing green? March 1st marked the meteorological beginning of spring. When I was a kid, spring clearly started on March 21st (the vernal equinox – when the sun and the equator celebrate a secret handshake), a much more likely date for closing the door on winter in North Dakota. Apparently, meteorologists rule when it comes to marking our seasons. Don’t put away the snow shovel just yet.

The most familiar holiday for the month is St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, which marks the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick was actually born in Britain, but was kidnapped at age 16 and forced to serve as a shepherd slave in Ireland. During this time, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. After being imprisoned for six years, Patrick escaped. He had dreams which directed him to become a Catholic priest and to convert the Irish. St. Patrick incorporated many traditional Celtic symbols and rituals into his lessons of Christianity, rather than eradicate native Irish beliefs. The Celtic cross is made by combining the sun with a Christian cross. The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring; Patrick used the shamrock to represent the Holy Trinity in his teachings. The color green is now synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish pride, but until the 19th century, the color associated with St. Patrick was actually blue.

Many Irish emigrated following the historic Irish Famine from 1845 to 1849, some finding new homes in New York, Chicago and Boston. The US Census Bureau has reported that 34 million – around 10 per cent – US citizens claim Irish descent. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York is the longest-running civilian parade in the world with up to 300,000 marchers and three million spectators lining the streets. The parade in 2002 featured the largest crowds ever, with a silent two-minute pause in the midst of the parade to pay tribute to the victims of 9-11. In 1962, the city of Chicago began the tradition of dying the Chicago River green to mark the holiday, a task in the hands of the Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130. The exact concoction remains a closely guarded secret, but it consists of about 40 pounds of vegetable-based powdered dye that is dumped into the river.

Other Irish customs brought to America include variations of Irish food. In the Irish homeland, boiled pork products were common. Pork was more expensive than beef in America, so the cabbage, potatoes and pork dish was replaced with corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. (Years ago, beef was packed in salt the size of corn kernels, hence “corned beef”). This is a staple Irish-American menu item in Irish Pubs across the United States. This year St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Friday, so anyone abstaining from eating meat during Lent may find it a challenge to fully celebrate in Irish fashion. Finally, St. Patrick’s Day is not complete without raising a pint of stout to the tune of an Irish ballad – “Danny Boy,” “My wild Irish Rose,” or “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.” For some, a milder alternative for celebrating the day is to spend a quiet evening on the Emerald Isle back in 1952 with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in “The Quiet Man” – with a side of fish and chips.

May your troubles be less and your Blessings be more, and nothing but Happiness come through your door.