St. Patrick's Day is Coming!

My husband and I both have Irish in our blood, so we love this holiday because it gives us a chance to celebrate our heritage.

This year, St. Patrick's Day is on a Tuesday. And on the closest Saturday is an even bigger holiday, because it only happens once every century: Pi Day with the year included! 3/14/15 will stand for 3.1415! Amazing thing to celebrate. So, St. Patrick's Day will likely be a more simple Tuesday celebration, whereas Saturday will be filled with pie!

A simple St. Patrick's Day, in my opinion, focuses on the Irish heritage. Definitely make some Irish soda bread, and perhaps some shepherd's pie for dinner. Unfortunately, Irish cuisine is not one of my favorites. Bu, what I do love about Irish heritage is their wonderful collections of blessings and toasts that focus on prosperity, friendship, and merriment.

Here are some of my favorite Irish blessings and toasts:

May the roof above us never fall in and the friends beneath it never fall out.

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, and may good luck pursue you each morning and night.

May your blessings outnumber the Shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. And our ale never turn musty.

May you live a long life, full of gladness and health. With a pocket full of gold, as the least of your wealth.

May the dreams you hold dearest, be those which come true. The kindness you spread, keep returning to you.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May Gold hold you in the hollow of his hand.

And finally:

Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who, through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here's toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings,
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick,
And see all those snakes again.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY, Y'ALL!