March 17 is St. Patrick's Day! Surely a fun holiday if there ever was one -- whether you're Irish or not. St. Patrick was that guy who lived in about 600 a.d. who chased the snakes out of Ireland, and the Irish have been celebrating with green beer and craziness every since, right? If that's what you think, you're wrong on every count. You'll have to read on to find out the real story behind St. Patrick and why he's celebrated. And when you get that green beer on your clothes, remember that dye stains require professional attention. Happy St. Patrick's Day, and we'll see you soon! Ed and Mary Longanecker Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company Irish Humor Paddy and Finnegan were crossing the lane with their tractor when a car came speeding around the corner. With great screeching of brakes the car went bounding off the pavement, flipped twice and landed in the pasture. Wiping his forehead, Paddy turned to Finnegan and said, "Sure and it's a good thing we got out of that field!" Irish Eyes are Smilin' COUPON! Nothing will make eyes -- Irish or otherwise -- twinkle like saving money on garment care. You're sure to be wearing green sometime this week, so have $15 in regular cleaning done and we'll do a predominantly GREEN garment at no charge. (Include first page of this newsletter with your order. Offer expires 3/26/05. Cannot be combined with other offers.) St. Patrick's Day Meaning & Myth St. Patrick's Day is one of those holidays that it's easy to get swept up in without even thinking about it. What could be easier than wearing green, singing Irish songs, breaking your dietary routine for some corned beef and cabbage, and getting weepy over "Danny Boy"? But there's more to St. Patrick's Day than green beer. Who was St. Patrick, anyway? Patrick's first visit to Ireland was not exactly a pleasure trip. The Celts were very warlike at the time and routinely captured people from other places and brought them to Ireland to sell as slaves -- and that's exactly what happened to 16-year-old Patrick in the year 401 a.d. He was forced to spend his days talking to God, since he was lonely in his captive labors. After 6 years, Patrick escaped and fled to Britain. Imagine his surprise when he received a divine message instructing him to return to Ireland, this time to preach. Patrick spent 15 years preparing for this and was made a Bishop in 432 at the age of 45. Only then did he return to Ireland, converting thousands and founding hundreds of churches. What about the snakes? That story about Patrick chasing all the snakes out of Ireland (there are none there today) makes great reading. But there never were snakes on the island. The allusion is more metaphorical than actual, since his conversion of the Irish meant the banishing of the brutal Celts who had been tyranizing them -- indeed something to celebrate! Test Your Irish I.Q. How much do you really know about the trivia surrounding St. Patrick's Day? Test your knowledge -- and then pop the questions on friends. It's always fun to feel smug knowing all the answers. (Answers are at the end of the quiz, no peeking!) Q. March 17 commemorates what event? St. Patrick's birthday Irish independence The date of St. Patrick's death It was chosen at random Q. The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in New York City in what year? 1762 1812 1922 Q. Which of the following countries hold St. Patrick's Day celebrations? Ireland USA Canada Australia Q. The shamrock is symbolic of corned beef, cabbage and beer the Trinity the third month of the year good luck Q. Irish celebrations of St. Patrick's day were noted for what until the 1970s? Costumes and games Painting buildings green Religious celebrations and closed pubs There were no celebrations How'd you do? If you haven't cheated, you're ready for the answers. March 17 is actually the date of St. Patrick's death, not his birth or anything else. It is normal for Saints to be commemorated on their death anniversary. The first St. Patrick's Day parade was staged by Irish soldiers in the English army in New York City way back in 1762. It was a way to draw the Irish together in solidarity and cultural unity. Years later, they also realized it showed their numbers -- and that meant power. Since that time, St. Patrick's Day festivities have been regular stops on politicians' agendas. All of the countries listed celebrate St. Patrick's day in some way. The Shamrock was something St. Patrick used to explain the Trinity -- God who was Three and yet One -- to the Irish. Think of it as a visual aid. It became associated with him strongly, and still features in any St. Paddy's Day theme. The Irish were the last ones to catch on to the tourish implications of St. Patrick's Day. Until the 1970s, it was primarily a religious celebration, and the pubs were closed by law. Quite different than it's American counterpart, with green alcoholic beverages and hilarity. Since the mid 1990s, the St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, Ireland has drawn massive crowds, however, since it is a multi-day festival of food, entertainment and culture. Last year, over a million people attended. For more about St. Patrick's Day: The History Channel -- You can see a video about the history of the holiday, take quizzes about Ireland and all things Irish, and much more. St. Patrick's Festival site -- Even if you can't go this year, you can read about it and make plans for next year. The 4-day festival has something for everyone. St. Patrick's Day website -- Everything from humor to history, gifts to goings on. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Please drink responsibly. We are enormously appreciative of the opportunity to share our weekly newsletters with you.  We feel that much of the content is valuable for anyone who purchases fine clothing and is interested in their preservations and cleaning. Click on the symbol to the left if your would like to send this and future newsletters to a friend. Thanks a million, Ed and Mary The Iris City Cleaners Connection is a weekly news letter dedicated to the interest of fine garment care, restoration, and conservation.  It is published in Mt Pleasant, Iowa by Iris City Cleaners and is an extension of our services described in www.iriscitycleaners.com        Info@iriscitycleaners.com 211 W Washington St. Mount Pleasant, IA 52641-2147 phone: (319) 385-9707 Privacy Policy/Terms of Service Copyright 2000-2005 by Iris City Cleaners and Laundering Company.. You must obtain written permission to use any content on this page.