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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 1996 Celebrating St. Patricks Day The Leprechaun of Balfergreen By Barbara Pyles Listen! I hear the drums. Excitement runs high in Dublin as children push towards the curb for a better look. Over 100,000 people line the route to watch Irelands biggest celebration. Bands, drill teams and floats from all over the world file down the streets raising a thunderous beat. Besides the parade, there are many other festivities: concerts, dog shows, horse racing, motor racing, and traditional Irish dancing. Its Saint Patricks Day and people want to have a wee bit of fun. Although Saint Patricks Day is an Irish holiday, many American cities celebrate, especially ,New York City. This city held their first Saint Patricks Day parade in 1762, but the first American city to celebrate St. Patricks Day was Boston, in 1737. Today over 122 cities in America hold parades to honor Irelands national hero. Yes, all over America, March 17 is a time to party and wear green. People also eat corn-bee- f somewhere around 389 A.D. Patricks real name was Succat, which means warlike. At the time of his birth, Britain was part of the Roman Empire, and Christian. At his baptism Succat was given the name Patricius, meaning noble. (He took the name of Patrick after becoming a priest). One day a warlike Irish king raided Britain. Patrick, 16, struggled, but he was among the people captured anyway. He was sold as a slave, and tended sheep in Ireland. The young herdsman began to have religious visions. According to legend, an angel urged him to escape. He sailed to the northern coast of Gaul which is now France, and later to Rome. After the strain of six years of captivity, it was a glorious relief to be free. Some say that Saint Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, was the teacher of Patrick. Anyway, Patrick did study to become a missionary. His ambition was to come back to Ireland to convert the heathen Irish. Patrick was ordained to the priesthood, and later became a bishop. He returned to Ireland about 432 A.D. to accomplish his goal of bringing Christianity to Ireland. Patrick concentrated on the west and north of Ireland preaching, baptizing, and setting up churches. According to history, he used shamrock leaves to explain the Trinity (the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit). This led to the use of the Shamrock as and cabbage, and sing Irish songs. They talk about Leprechauns, a little clover called the Shamrock and some may even kiss the Blarney stone. Children have started a tradition of their own: The pinching of classmates who won't wear green. You dont have to be Irish to celebrate. After all, Saint Patrick wasnt actually Irish. Some historical sources report that the hero of Ireland was born in Roman Britain, others say Sco- the Irish national symbol. Altland near the town of though Patrick spent 40 years Dumbarton. The date is set at in Ireland, he never did claim to have converted all of Ireland. There are many legends associated with Patrick: He was once preaching a sermon on the suffering of Christ to King Aengus. For Kids Only By Barbara Pyles During the excitement of the Many years ago there lived a moment, Patrick accidentally slammed his staff through the leprechaun in Baltergreen. He Kings foot. The King thought was a scrawny man, about two this was the moral of the sermon, feet tall. He always wore a green so he did not yell. It didnt take cocked hat and a brown, leather Patrick long to realize what had apron. The leprechaun lived by happened. The story says he himself and passed the time prayed and the foot was healed. making shoes. Every once in awhile treaLegend also has it that Patrick sure hunters tracked him down drove all the snakes out of Irebecause he knew the whereland. The snakes slithered into the sea and drowned. Since the abouts of a pot of gold. They often threatened him with snake was a pagan symbol, perhaps this tale refers to the fact bodily harm if he didnt reveal that he drove paganism out of the location of the treasure. Outside the cabin the lepreIreland. chaun had a wee bit of a garden. Saint Patrick, also called the He alplanted cabbages, onions and Apostle of Ireland, worked potatoes. And around the edge most 40 years bringing Christian faith to the Irish. He died of the garden he grew little cloaround 461 A.D. The exact date vers. And here lied the secret of is not known. In fact as you may finding the hidden pot of gold. The leprechaun was unhave guessed there is some confusion to the chronology of his friendly and withdrawn. The life. But one thing is certain, his neighbors that lived nearby only traditional feast day, March 17, came to his house when they is a time to honor and keep alive wanted to buy a pair of shoes or the memory of Saint Patrick. So vegetables. One, night the latch on the wear a bit of green and have door lifted. The door opened some fun. with a creak, and inside stepped a treasure hunter. The man pointed a finger at the leprechaun. Lets go leprechaun. Then, he grabbed the leprechaun by his shirt collar. Help, screamed the leprechaun, pretending to be scared. For two long weary days the two traveled towards the hills. The treasure hunter watched day the travelers saw a rainbow. The treasure hunter was very tired, but he followed the leprechaun across some slippery stones. Then the man slipped. He looked away and the leprechaun disappeared. Before longthe leprechaun was back in his house making shoes. Kn odd Knock! Standing in the doorway was a boy in shabby clothes. Have you come to buy shoes? asked the leprechaun. The shrewd boy opened his hand and showed the tiny man some coins. Shoes for my mother and sister he said. And cabbages for some soup What! No pot of gold? shrieked the leprechaun. Just shoes and cabbages,' said the clever boy. The leprechaun told the boy to pick his cabbages while he wrapped the shoes. When the boy entered the house, he held two cabbages and one four-leclover. And how the boy knew the secret of finding the pot of gold I cannot tell you. The boy clapped a hand on the leprechauns shoulder. I really need that pot of gold, he said. The leprechaun and the boy headed towards a colorful rainbow. The sun began to go down and a quietness came over the land. The next morning the leprechaun took the boy over some slippery rocks, but the boy did not fall. Some say it was because of the lucky four leaf clover in his pocket. the leprechaun 'all day and The next morning they arThe man if he knew rived at the glowing colors, and night. took his eyes off the creature found the pot of gold. This story the hopes of finding the trea- would be much too long if I told sure were lost. of the goodness that the boy did On the morning of the third with the gold. Kanab Area Physicians Calendar & Office Hours af ) Jackson Clinic 644-261- 2 Dr. Pandya 644-266- Kanab M, T, W, Th, F Orderville T 8:30 am - 5 pm Kanab M, T, Th, F 9 am - noon 2 pm - 5 pm Kanab J... 'is Still Serving Great Mexican Food - 5 Dr. Roberts 644-261- 9 am - 5 pm 2 pm - 5 pm 2 Dr. Anderson-Orthope- dic Dr. Dr. Olsori-PodiaDr. Peterson-Ea- r, Dr. Phillips-Radiolotric Cardiology Clinic Nose & Throat tl ?? atZican-Mt- . 1st Tuesday each month Green-Orthoped- ic gist t? T, W, Th, F 3rd Tuesday each month 1st Thursday each month 2nd Tuesday each month 2nd & 4th Wed. each month 2nd Wednesday each month ' : 644-261- 2 644-261- 2 644-581- 1 644-261- 2 644-581- 1 644-261- 2 Located on Highway 9 at the East Entrance to Zion National Park Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m . & 7 days a week For more info or to make reservations, The Kane County Hospitals regular governing board meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday 6i each month at 7 p.m. in the Kane County Hospitals Conference room. Brought to you by Kane County Hospital r r Carmel Restaurant - - . S rtfcii I Mil (jlk |