Saint Patti’s Day
That is what my parents always called St. Patrick’s Day when I was a child. No wonder it felt like such a special day and that I felt so closely tied to my Irish heritage. Even though I am an American mongrel and have more Finnish blood than anything else, I loved having a day named just for me. This was just one of the ways my parents made me feel special.
My parents are both gone now but this little guy always reminds me of my dad. A tradition that began once my parents had grandchildren was for each grandchild to receive their very own leprechaun from my father. He waited until they were old enough to understand and then he gave them their leprechaun with a secret name. The name was never to be told to anyone else and known only to each individual grandchild and their Poppy.
I am the baby in a family that was spread out over many years so my own youngest child was only an infant when her Poppy died. He didn’t forget her though and when she was old enough my mother gave her the leprechaun that was set aside just for her. My girls still remember the names of their leprechauns and they still hold their secret names to themselves. What a wonderful tie to their Poppy and their Irish heritage.
I was having tea with a friend this week and we came across this tea from Ireland that I simply couldn’t pass up. I still have both of my in-laws and since my mother-in-law is Irish and loves tea I had to buy this as a gift for her. Gift of the Gab! What a great name for a tea shared with a few women.
And here is a little Irish gal that I printed from The Graphics Fairy to add to my St. Patti’s Day decor.
Her eyes are green just like mine! That was another thing that made me feel especially Irish as a child.
No matter what your heritage St. Patrick’s Day is a day for the wearin’ o’ the green (unless you’d like a good pinch).
I’ll be cooking a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage and enjoying the feeling of having had parents that loved me so much that they named a day of the year just for me!
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Blessings,
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I loved your story and I love your little St Patty Day Leprechauns, so so sweet…I will have to find me some green and white…
Hi Patti, I suppose you do feel special. The story about your folks and especially your dad is indeed a very heart-warming story. What loving parents and grandparents they were, to do something special for each grandchild. You are blessed. I had better find something green to wear tomorrow!
Hugs, Cindy
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you! Have a good day tomorrow. Linda
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Oh, my gosh…this is BEYOND sweet!!! Hi! I’m your next-door neighbor on Seasonal Sunday, and this is just the sweetest post. You grew up in a very loving family, and that your Dad would think to create a leprechaun for your infant child…just wonderful! It’s so neat, too, that your childhood was made that much more special with “St. Patti’s Day”! Wishing you and yours the very best St. Patti’s Day ever!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you.
The Irish Blessing gets me every time! Enjoyed your family story and the tea is perfect.
What a heart warming and sweet post. Love that your father was such a thoughtful man. I’m afraid I shouldn’t drink the tea…I already have a major gift for gab and it might make me intolerable!