Ever wondered why kissing is associated with St. Patrick's Day? This blog post explores the origins and myths behind this popular tradition.
Also known as the feast of St. Patrick, St. Patrick's day is celebrated worldwide on March 17th every year in honor of Ireland's patron saint.
Kissing and the phrase “Kiss me, I'm Irish” are deeply associated with this celebration. But why so? What is the significance of this practice and where are its roots?
This blog looks at the many legends surrounding St. Patrick's day to discover where this kissing tradition originates.
St. Patrick's Day Kisses
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1. |
A little About Saint Patrick |
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2. |
From Religious Feast To Parades |
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3. |
The Legend of The Blarney Stone |
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4. |
How To Kiss The Blarney Stone |
A Little About Saint Patrick
Born as Maewyn Succat in Britain under Roman rule around the 4th century AD, St. Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16 and sold to slavery in Ireland.
He labored for six years, learned the local language, and converted to Christianity before escaping around 408 AD, first to France, and then on to Britain. There, he trained and became a Christian minister under the name Patrick and rose through the ranks to become a bishop in 432 AD.
St. Patrick came back to minister in Ireland and is regarded as the founder of the Christian church of Ireland. He spread the faith, wrote two books, and started the building of numerous religious monuments, schools, and monasteries.
St. Patrick died in 461 AD, presumably on March 17, on which date he is now being celebrated. The national cathedral of Ireland–St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin–is named after him.
From Religious Feast To Parades
As the Irish people initially began to honor St. Patrick every year on March 17th, it was more of a quiet, religious feast. But by the 17th century, it had become a national holiday in Ireland and was accompanied by lots of legendary tales about Ireland's patron saint.
When the Irish potato famine devastated the country in the 19th century, an estimated 1.5+ million Irish adults and children left Ireland for America between 1845 and 1855. These Irish immigrants brought the St. Patrick's day celebration with them to America.
St. Patrick's Day has grown and evolved ever since, from a simple religious feast to a secular holiday, parades, and even as a celebration of Irish heritage in America.
The Legend of The Blarney Stone
There are so many legends and traditions surrounding St. Patrick's day. They range from St. Patrick chasing out the snakes from Ireland to wearing green and kissing as part of the celebration, pinching those not wearing green, and to gold-greedy leprechaun fairies, the Shamrock, and the Blarney stone.
The legend of the Blarney stone explains the origins of St. Patrick's day kisses. In County Cork, Ireland lies the Blarney Castle, which was built by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy. Once embroiled in a lawsuit, he appealed to the fairy queen Cliodhna for help and she told him to kiss the first stone he found on his way to the court in the morning.
MacCarthy did as instructed and was able to plead his case with great eloquence and eventually won. He then built the stone into his castle's parapet and its fame has ever increased since then. It is said to bestow the gift of the gab–the eloquence of a silvery tongue or the ability to deceive without offending.
How To Kiss The Blarney Stone
Given the magical benefits of kissing the Blarney stone, thousands of visitors from around the world visit the Blarney castle each year to kiss it. A visit costs about 15 Euros and there are often long lines.
You will need to climb to the top of the castle, then lean backward and upside down over a parapet, while holding onto iron railings to kiss the Blarney stone. This is the only way to reach it because of its unique placement.
And for those who can't travel to Ireland to kiss the stone and receive its gift in person, kissing an Irish person becomes the next best thing to rub off the luck of the Irish and gain this gift.
Notable singers, poets, and orators that have kissed the Blarney stone include Sir Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Sir Walter Scott, and many more.
Conclusion
In closing, you have discovered the centuries-old origins of St. Patrick's day, the many legends that make it such an outstanding Irish holiday, and of course, the tradition of kissing the Blarney stone. So, when someone says "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" this March 17th, feel free to oblige.
By the way, if you're looking for something green and sexy to celebrate the day with your sweetheart, then check out our St. Patrick's Day lingerie offers.