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Written by Glenda Jao
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Friday, 09 February 2007 |
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 The people of Ireland have an illustrious cultural history, full of stories of faeries and and the great Saint Patrick who freed Emerald Isle from snakes. The folklore and traditions which encompasses Irelands's religious as well as ancient pagan past are a beautiful way to know about its rich cultural heritage.
People often relate the symbol of shamrock with Ireland. It is believed that Saint Patrick used this commonly found plant to espouse on the theory of the Christian trinity of father, son and the holy ghost. Shamrock plant is made of three leaves and is believed to have supernatural power of healing and protection. This is why it is commonly found engraved on graves.
The color green represents Emerald Isle, the famous nickname of Ireland, because of its lush green plants, thanks to the wet weather. It also stands for the color of life and spring, and is used to display the national pride of the Irish people.
Perhaps the most famous legend that stems from Ireland is that of the leprechaun. These tiny enchanted people are often associated with rainbows and pots of gold, as they guard the treasures from people who are so lucky to find the end of the rainbow. Usually, leprechauns are troublemakers and rogues, who mean no harm but only perform pranks to delight children and adults alike. Next time you see a rainbow, try to catch the leprechaun!
The Blarney stone in the famous Blarney Castle has a legend attached to it. It is said to have bestowed the gift of eloquence to Lord of Blarney when the reagent of England's’sQueen Elizabeth I tried to influence him to English rule. The poor Lord did not know what to say to the ruler. A wise woman told him to kiss the Blarney stone and he succeeded in making his plea before the Queen.
Samhain was celebrated by the ancient Irish on the All Hallow's Eve. On 31 October every year, they held a great feast along with a ceremonial and lighting and putting out of bonfires. They would dress in a disguise to fool evil spirits on their way home.
Finn McCool is the friendly giant of Ireland who is said to protect them against attack. It is believed he fought against an evil giant from Scotland by throwing a large clod of earth at the big Scot. This is how Lough Neagh, the largest body of water, was formed.
The most famous personality belonging to Ireland and their benefactor saint is Saint Patrick. He was born in 5'th Century AD. Saint Patrick closely worked with Roman Catholic Church to bring pagans into the fold of Christianity. This put him against the droids. He was often forced to live the life of a fugitive. Saint Patrick is also known for eradicating snakes from Ireland by cursing them to run away into the sea and drown.
Glenda Jao is the owner of F ireland, the web's premier resource for information about ireland, For questions or comments about this article visit: http://www.folkireland.com/articles
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Image By Paige Hepple
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 January 2008 )
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