I went to Philly Saturday for the Erin Express. It was a lot of fun and very green. Three guys told me I looked like Isla Fisher too...crazy! I don't really see it....
But I saw Jilly!! I couldn't believe my luck! It must've been that Irish luck that reunited us so gloriously! I never thought I'd see a Boston crew in Philly around St. Patrick's Day!
Anyways, me being the history nerd I am thought, "What would St. Patrick say if he saw this craziness?" I mean, who was he really? Maybe a lot of you know this, but I don't so here's a short history about the man himself, thanks to History Channel:
It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. Although his father was a Christian deacon, it has been suggested that he probably took on the role because of tax incentives and there is no evidence that Patrick came from a particularly religious family. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. (There is some dispute over where this captivity took place. Although many believe he was taken to live in Mount Slemish in County Antrim, it is more likely that he was held in County Mayo near Killala.) During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)
He never rid Ireland of snakes (Ireland wasn't even home to them!) and the only reason corned beef is associated with the Irish is because they used that as a substitute for Irish bacon. They learned from their Jewish neighbors at the turn of the century this less expensive alternative.
For more interesting tidbits, click here!
I feel smarter already :)
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