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Writer's picturePutnam County

Irish Culture and Old Wive's Tales

Student Author: Kaylynn H.

St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious celebration in the 17th century to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. On March 17th, 490 AD, Saint Patrick died (Allan). Now St. Patrick’s Day or also known as his Feast Day is celebrated on the 17th as a traditional death date (as he was the patron saint of Ireland). The first St. Patrick's day parade was in 1762 in New York City (Allan). As the Irish Immigrants came to the United States, the celebration became widespread. As St. Patrick’s Day comes around, many people think about the Irish luck, traditions, and maybe some superstitions. Many people believe in the superstitions or old wive’s tales that happen in the month of March or on St. Patrick's Day.


Many believe the Irish culture and the peculiar myths. Green is a color of leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day, however, the old wive’s tale states that greenery brings good luck, as the shamrocks are used to teach people about the Holy Trinity (Allan).


There are many ways to boost your energy, the Irish will drink a mixture of milk and beer to energize a life without pain and to give high fertility. The natives of Ireland mainly rely on the old wive’s tales because they are something that they’ve used for years. It just so happens that this year, the new moon and St. Patrick’s Day both fall on March 17th. The Celts interrupted the phase of the moon and went along with the old wive’s tale, they call it the “waxing moon” or the “new moon”, in which as the new moon swelled, so would the tiny plants within the seeds (McDonagh). Meaning that with the “new moon” swelling, it will bring fertility as stated in the Old Wive’s Tale.


Works Cited:

Allan, Patrick. "The Real History of St. Patrick's Day." 17 March 2017. lifehacker.com/the-real-history-of-st-patrick-s-day-1793354674

McDonagh, Michelle. "Shingles: The Facts and Myths." 16 February 2016. www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/shingles-the-facts-and-myths-1.2527016

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