by Diane Walsh

Created on: March 11, 2009

The festive celebration of St. Patrick's Day is full of superstitions. The magical Irish fairy or the Leprechaun is hunted by many looking for gold. The Irish word for Leprechaun is lobairein, which means small bodied fellow. This small fellow lives alone in the forest. He makes shoes for a living. If by some luck of the Irish you catch a leprechaun, he will give you his pot of gold for his release.

Romantic minded Irish are in search of the Blarney stone. The Irish legend says an old women was drowning. A king saved her and the woman cast a spell on a stone to reward the king. The stone is set in the wall of the Blarney Castle. A kiss of this stone brings the kisser the gift of persuasive talk. The kisser is then able to speak in a sweet and convincingly manner to get what ever he wants. Talking blarney is a saying that accompanies a person who can convince you of almost anything.

A shamrock is a green three leafed clover. It is a sign of hope and nature and the coming of spring. A four leafed clover is far better and will bring good fortune. You can enhance your chances of good luck by handing the found clover to someone else.

When the first full moon of the New Year arrives in Ireland, maidens gather special herbs by the light of the moon. Then they recited a verse that is supposed to reveal a future husband in a dream. The verse is:

Moon, moon tell unto me,

When my true love I shall see?

What fine clothes am I to wear?

How many children will I bear?

For if my love comes not to me

Dark and dismal my life will be

The maidens must also meet a list of requirements. They must use a black-handled knife to cut out three pieces of earth and bring them home. Then tie them in her left stocking and secure the bundle with her right garter. Then she puts the complete package under her pillow. Her future husband will be revealed in her dreams.

When yawning in Ireland, make the sign of the cross over your mouth to keep evil spirits from rushing down and taking up residence in your body. If the palm of your hand itches you will be getting money. If your elbow itches, you will be changing beds. Don't break a mirror, for it brings seven years of bad luck. If two people wash their hands in the same basin at the same time, they are courting disaster. School children started a tradition of pinching classmates who didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day.

Whether you believe in superstitions or not, St. Patrick's Day is a great time to celebrate the coming of spring and the love of Irish culture.

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