MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH BE WITH YE TODAY

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you

Today is St. Patrick's Day, when everyone who has a bit of Irish in their blood, and yes, even those who do not, but consider themselves Irish just for today, celebrate.

Interesting facts and legends:

According to legend, St. Patrick would be judge of the Irish on the day of Judgment, while for the rest of the nations on Earth, Christ judged.

St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in Ireland. Not only there, but in Monserrat "the Emerald Isle of the Carribean.” It was settled in 1633 by Irish migrants from St Kitts.

Blue, not green, was the color associated with St. Patrick. The blue was used on Ireland's Presidential Standard or flag. The Irish Guards also wore a blue plume in their bearskins. The reason for wearing of the green is thought to be linked as a symbol from the 18th century on, of sympathy with Irish independence.

Considered patron of fishermen in the Loire, there's a legend associated with St. Patrick with a blackthorn bush. The story goes that he slept beneath it and when he awoke the next day, which was Christmas, the bush had flowered. Legend continues that it continued to do so every Christmas until its destruction during the First World War.

Until the 1970’s, all pubs were shut in Ireland on St Patrick’s Day. The sole venue to get alcohol came from the annual dog show. Lenten fasting – and the obligation to abstain from meat – were lifted on the day, which most families would begin with Mass.

The first St Patrick’s Day parade took place in 1737 in Boston, followed in 1762 by New York. Also, George Washington let his soldiers have a holiday March 17, 1780. The reason being “an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence.”

And I found this variation on Corned Beef and Cabbage as pizza on the Food Network. Here is the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/corned-beef-and-cabbage-pizza-recipe/index.html