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Show Feature SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 1998 ' t I-- . Ui W 3 t & If 1 43 OPii ? a History of St. Patricks Day JIC, Leprechaun's- pot of gold - By Barbara Pyles The resourceful bey opened Once upon a time an his hand and showed the lepLeprechaun rechaun 3ome coins. Shoes for lived in Shamrock, a town on my mother, and cabbages for one of the highest mountain some soup, in the land. Thi s mischievous What! No pot of gold, who had magical laughed the Leprechaun. creature, a cocked wore The clever boy smiled. Just powers, always emerald shoes and cabbages, sir. and hat, green pants, Go pick your vegetables a brown leather apron. He lived by himself and made while I wrap the shoes, said shoes. The Leprechaun had the Leprechaun. When the boy his very own pot of gold hid- came into the house, he had den at the end of his very own two cabbages in his hands, and clover hidden in his rainbow,1 a four-leHe also had a wee bit of a pocket garden where he planted cab- j The boy dropped the cabbages bages, onions, potatoes, and clo- and grabbed the Leprechaun ver, Unlike most Leprechauns, by the neck. I really need that he was happy and full of fun. pot of gold, he said, His neighbors came to his house Stealing isnt verynice said to buy shoes or vegetables, and the Leprechaun. to watch the Leprechaun dance The boy forced the Leprechaun up the mountain toward One stormy night the door the lake. On the other side of opened with a creak, A trea- the lake, a glorious rainbow sure hunter grabbed the Lep- touched the ground, Cross rechaun by his collar. Take me here, said the Leprechaur , or to the secret place where your you will nwer leave this place gold is hid, he said. , Don'fchurfcme screamed the The boy touched the four leaf clover in his pocket. He kept be to Leprechaun, pretending his eyes on the Leprechaun as afraid. The captor kept his eyes on he bounced over the slippery the Leprechaun every second. rocks. Then, he jumped onto They came to a lake. Cross the rainbow and rode it to the here, said the Leprechaun, or end. When the Leprechaun you will never leave this place alive. tossed some dust onto the As the treasure hunter fol- ground, the earth began to lowed th leprechaun across quiver and shake. The Lepsome wet stones, he fell into the rechaun, and the pot of gold lake. You tricked me, he disappeared. shouted. Leprechauns are hard to find Click, click, click The Lep- these days, but they still have rechaun was back in his house their very own pot of gold at the end of their very own rainmaking shoes. Knock! Knock! Standing in bow. Leprechauns know that the doorway was a hoy. Have the only way to keep that gold you come to buy some shoes? is to outwit those who try to steal it. asked the Leprechaun. . af , : ,, of Irish pirates raided his vil- tional symbol. By Barbara Pyles Another legend associated Although St. Patricks Day is lage. Although the young lad not a national holiday in the put up a good fight, he was with Patrick: He was once United States, March 17th is taken with many others to Ire- preaching a sermon on the sufcelebrated in many communi- land and sold into slavery. One fering of Christ to King Aengus. ties and cities. For example, many cities in the United States hold parades to honor Irelands national hero. Yes, on March 17, people wear green, eat corn beef and cabbage, drink green beer and sing Irish songs. They talk about Leprechauns, a little clover called the Shamrock and some may even kiss the Blarney Stone. On this day everybody is Irish! Even children have a tradition of their own: the pinching of classmates who dont wear green. The biggest celebration of all is, of course, in Ireland. About the only businesses that stay open on March 17 are restaurants and pubs. One of Irelands biggest parades takes place in Dublin. Over 100,000 people line the parade route as bands, drill teams and floats file down the streets. Besides the parade, there are many other festivities: concerts, dog shows, horse racing, motor racing, and traditional Irish dancing. After all, it is Saint Patricks Day and people want to have a wee bit offun. St. Patricks Day is also a religious holiday as well, many attend mass. Lets step back in time to explore the legend of St. Patrick Actually at one time Patrick was far from being a saint. Before the age of 16, he considered himself a heathen. Patrick was not Irish, sources say St. Patrick was born around 373 A.D. in Scotland or in Roman Britain. He took the name of Patrick after he became a priest. His real name was Maewyn Succat. When Patrick was 16, a group can only imagine what it was like for Patrick. Once the son of a prosperous landowner and magistrate, he now tended sheep and pigs in all kinds of weather. During his captivity, the youngboy learned the language and customs of the Irish. Patrick never dreamed that years later he would struggle with the Druids for their hearts and souls. As Patrick grew closer to God, he started having religious visions. When he was about 22 years old, an angel guided Patrick to a getaway ship. Some say he traveled to Gaul, and studied in the mon- astery under St. Germain, Bishop of Auxerre. Anyway Patrick did study to become a missionary. He was ordained to the priesthood and later became a bishop. His ambitions were to return to Ireland to convert the unbelieving Irish, which he did at the age of 60. Saint Patrick, also called the Apostle of Ireland, had an outgoing personality, and this friendliness helped him convert the pagans in Ireland to Christianity. He concentrated on the west and north of Ireland preaching, baptizing, settingup churches, and monasteries. Many Irish myths surround St. Patricks Day. Today most kids in Ireland have heard the story of how Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the heathen Irish: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Three leaves: one plant. This led to the use of the Shamrock as the Irish na During the excitement of the moment, Patrick accidentally slammed his staff through the Kings foot. The King thought this was the moral of the sermon, so he didnt yell. It didnt take Patrick long to realize what had happened. The story says he prayed and the foot was healed. According to legend, Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Since the snake was a pagan symbol, perhaps this tale refers to the fact that he drove paganism out of Ireland. You may have guessed that there is some confusion to the chronology of his life. But one thing is certain, his traditional feast day, March 17, is a time to honor and keep his memory alive. So wear a bit of green and have some fun. n A Irish blessing: May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow And may trouble avoid you wherever you go. well-know- If GREAT WESTERN LEASING & SALES (801) 295-181- (800) 1 211-281- 1 Mobile Storage Containers and Mobile Offices Buy Rent Lease 40 ft. Containers $110 per mo. 20 ft. Containers $85 per mo. Fast Pickup & Delivery New 2200 sq. ft. home, 4 bedroom, 2 bath on M2 acre FEATURING Superior Quality You Expect In A Home. An Irish Leprechaun with his pot of gold! fta Ddim) ft Set Up. Appro 106 H EDDY BUILDERS For all your building needs Since 1960 No substitute for experience . FOnSUEO O0F.1ES, K3G. 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