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Yes, everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and at Barclay it isn’t any different. Especially with our very own Mary O cooking our traditional office lunch of corned beef and cabbage! She won’t give up the secret family recipe, but it’s converted plenty into fans of this traditional March meal.

We all like a reason to celebrate, but to help you appreciate this holiday that kicks off spring here’s a little bit of information about the folklore behind the party. . .

-St. Patrick’s Day honors the missionary St. Patrick who is supposed to have converted the Irish to Christianity around 400 AD. It is celebrated on March 17th because that is believed to be the day he died. The large public events that mark this event are actually American creations.

-Going green on March 17th doesn’t have anything to do with saving the planet. It means what it says… wearing, drinking, and eating the color green.

-The first celebration in America was in 1737 when Boston held the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade. Today over 100 U.S. cities mark the occasion with a parade.

-The shamrock, a member of the clover family, is the national flower of Ireland and worn proudly on this day. Each leaf on the four leaf clover represents one of the following: Hope, Faith, Love, and Luck. Tip: Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck!

-The leprechaun is a smiling merry little elf connected with St. Patrick’s Day. He is known as the official shoemaker of the fairy kingdom. Legend describes him as a grumpy, tricky and untrustworthy guardian of a hidden pot of gold which humans are forever unsuccessful at locating.

-The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of eloquence. In order to get a kiss in, you have to climb the steep stairs to the top of the tower, lean over backwards and pucker up!

“Dance as if no one's watching, sing as if no one's listening, and live everyday as if it were your last.”

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