Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm posting this a little late, it's been busy around here with our festivities and adding items to the boutique, but I wanted to share a little Irish lore.............

Blarney Stone
Blarney stone The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence. The legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. It's difficult reach the stone. Kissers have to lie on their back and bend backward or downward, holding iron bars for support.

St. Patrick's Day Pinch
School children have started a little tradition of their own. They pinch classmates who don't wear green on this holiday. Wearing green is strictly a U.S. custom, as the color green is not popular in Ireland. Green is connected to the old green flag and a time when Ireland was not free. Green is also a color connected with hope and nature.

Toasts
Here's to absent friends and here's twice to absent enemies.
Here's to the light heart and the heavy hand.
Thirst is a shameless disease so here's to a shameful cure.
Here's to a wet night and a dry morning.
May we always have a clean shirt, a clean conscience, and a bob in the pocket.
May you be across Heaven's threshold before the old boy knows you're dead.

Superstitions
Moon, moon tell unto me,When my true love I shall see?

What fine clothes am I to wear?How many children will I bear?

For if my love comes not to me,Dark and dismal my life will be.

This verse, recited by a maiden as she gathered special herbs by the light of the first full moon of the new year, could reveal a future husband and cause the girl to have a true dream about the man--if she first complied with certain requirements. With a black-handled knife she had to cut out three pieces of earth, bring them home, tie them in her left stocking, and secure the bundle with her right garter. The completed package then had to be placed upon her pillow.

When yawning, make the sign of the cross instantly over your mouth, or the evil spirit will make a rush down and take up his abode with you.

It is unlucky to offer your right hand in salutation, for thee is an old say, "A curse with the left hand to those we hate, but the right hand to those we honor."

If the palm of your hand itches you will be getting money; if the elbow, you will be changing beds.

Breaking a mirror brought seven years of bad luck, while two people washing hands in the same basin at the same time courted disaster.

Irish Humor
What do you call an Irishman who knows how to control his wife?A bachelor.
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Definition of an Irish husband: He hasn't kissed his wife for twenty years, but he will kill any man who does.
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Courtship is a time during which the girl decides whether she can do better or not.
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Dinny was standing in the street the other day when an English chap came up to him and said,"I say old chap, could you show me the way to the nearest boozer?"Says Dinny, hopefully,You're looking at him."