“If you hold a four-leaf shamrock in your left hand on St. Patrick’s Day, you get what you want very much but haven’t wished for.” Ours was an unspoken desire to make merry during such a tumultuous time and the afternoon of March 17 presented us the opportune moment to do so.
March 17 is a day set aside to celebrate a saintly figure by the name Patrick, otherwise referred to as The Patron Saint of Ireland. His is an intriguing story of a young man whose road to perpetual glory began thousands of years ago in the late 300s AD.
Born a British Roman in year 385, Saint Patrick grew up as a young rebellious man who lived a life of luxury. Misfortune however had him kidnapped from his family’s estate at 16 and sold into slavery in Ireland where he was held captive for 6 years. Arriving on Irish soil as an Atheist, he converted to Christianity and developed a deep relationship with God. After escaping his master and fleeing back to Britain, he continued to cultivate his faith. He ultimately made the decision that would turn him into a Saint forever celebrated; he returned to Ireland as a missionary to bring his Christian ideologies to the Irish people. With his missionary endeavors, he was able to baptize thousands of people, ordain new priests, and form over 300 churches in Ireland. March 17 is the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death and commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
“Kiss Me, I’m Irish!” For this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day, we headed over to Kengele’s Lavington Green to attend a lovely banquet in honor of the Saint. Upon arrival, everything was green and Irish to the core. From the four leaf shamrocks, Irish hats, lucky lads and sassy lassies all dressed in green, the theme of the day could not be mistaken.
Sponsored by Irish beer, Hop house 13 Lager, there was an endless supply of delicious beer to be had. The amazing DJ Dream lent a fun vibe to the celebratory occasion by playing us some bops and hits we couldn’t help but sway our heads to. The food was simple but tantalizing; some fries, a delicious salad, and mouth watering grilled meat. After downing a few beers and mingling with the guests, a fun trivia session followed. Our dedication in observing Saint Patrick’s Day was rewarded as we had the honor of winning a Hop house board game for spotting an all-green outfit. The lovely day was concluded with gift bags for guests containing hob house beers and T-shirts, appropriate gifts to continue the festivities in the comfort of our homes.
All green and dandy, we were Irish for the day and exceptionally joyful while celebrating the life of a renowned Saint, the symbol of Irish heritage, Saint Patrick! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from us to yours!
- Written by Mary Njehia
