I love Saint Patrick’s Day for a variety of reasons. First, it’s the day when everyone—including this American with really deep Norwegian roots—celebrates this Irish saint. Back in the day, I was known to drink a green beer or two.
Saint Patrick’s Day—the Feast of Saint Patrick—“is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland,” according to Wikipedia.
I have one circle of friends whose mortar of our relationship is made out of this feast. We often have the good fortune to get together on Saint Patrick’s Day and share a meal of corn beef, cabbage and potatoes, maybe washing it down with a Guinness, like so many of Irish heritage (or not) do on this day. (Lenten restrictions are lifted on Saint Patrick’s Day, don’t you know.)
Green is one of my favorite colors, so I love that everything on this day is green: clothes, hair, beer even the Chicago River! The day comes at a time where—here in the Midwest—we have been looking at a lot of white and brown. So the green is a welcome change and gets us ready for spring, which will come soon!
[bctt tweet=”I’ve heard Saint Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the story of the Trinity. “]
Last, but not least, is my love of Saint Patrick stories. I’ve heard that he used the shamrock to illustrate the story of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Often in the summer I bend down to pick up a three-leaf clover, and I think about God’s love for us.
So, top o’ the morning to you, and Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. Enjoy your day of playing Irish and forgoing Lenten restrictions.
But do spend some time thinking about Saint Patrick’s shamrock illustration: the Trinity.
Nancy Giddings serves on the churchwide executive board and lives in Blaine, Minn.
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Photo: Still burning, used with permission from Creative Commons
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