Luck of the Irish!
Have you heard that phrase? Since March is the month of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it’d be fun to learn some history about luck and traditions.
www.Irishcentral.com is a great place to learn about the luck of the Irish. Are you Irish? Are you interested in luck?
Did you know that the belief about the luck of the Irish originated in America? During the mid- 19th century in the height of gold fever, many Irish miners immigrated to California and struck it rich between 1848-1855. There was a lot of jealousy among the mining population, and “the Luck of the Irish” was named.
Most of us have heard about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That phrase began in Ireland with the Irish folklore of leprechauns who are miniature elf like creatures and very successful shoemakers who like to hide their profits of gold coins in pots at the end of rainbows.
It is told that if a human ever catches a leprechaun, he will be granted 3 wishes in exchange for his freedom. Have you ever caught a leprechaun? Have you ever even seen one?
It’s probably easier to find a four-leaf clover. They are also said to bring luck. They are hard to find. There is 1 in every 5000 clovers. It is believed that finding a four-leaf clover allows you to see fairies. I had a clover patch in my backyard as a child and we did indeed find a few in our hunts. The three-leaf clover is also highly regarded in Ireland on account of it being a symbol of the holy trinity in the Christian religion.
Lucky horseshoes didn’t originate in Ireland but are common hung from doors with the open end pointing skyward, holding in all of the luck. It comes from an Irish tale that Satan ordered horseshoes for his horse. As a trick, the blacksmith nailed the shoe to Satan’s foot and would only remove it and also Satan’s agony if Satan promised to never enter a house with a horseshoe hung up upon the door.
Whether it’s clover, rainbows, horseshoes, or a positive mind frame, I hope you feel blessedly lucky! I am in knowing you!
