St. Patrick's Day is the old Irish holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. Many fun and interesting traditions have developed over the last 300 years since it became an official Christian feast day, and the Irish are very proud of their history and heritage. Because America is a land of immigrants and opportunity, St. Patrick's Day is one of those cultural trade-offs that has exploded in popularity and become a holiday for anyone and everyone to celebrate!
However, many Americans (Irish-American or otherwise!) that enjoy our favorite excuse to get drunk wearing hideous green outfits don't have that rich history and cultural background knowledge of these traditions that make the holiday so special to the Irish (... the ones in Ireland).
To bring a little bit of extra knowledge and spice to your St. Patty's Day festivities, why not learn a few traditional Irish sayings? It's a great way to learn more about Irish culture, and also a neat party trick.
Here is a list of a few St. Patty's Day themed sayings in Irish Gaelic, all in the Munster dialect with some pronunciation guides! Sláinte (cheers)!
"A country without a language, a country without a soul."
| Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam | /teer gon chong-ga, teer gon on-um/ |
This Irish proverb is all about Irish pride and identity. Within the last hundred or so years, native speakers of the Irish language have increased dramatically in Ireland in an effort to bring Irish Gaelic from the danger of extinction -- after all, if you're Irish, you speak Irish, right?
"Kiss me, I'm Irish!"
| Tabhair póg dom, táim Éireannach | /TOO-irr pogue dum, toyme AY-ron-ock/ |
Historically, this goofy Irish tradition comes from the legend of the Blarney Stone, a magical stone that, when you kiss it, gives you good luck! I would much rather kiss a person than a stone, though, so maybe the change was for the better.
"Ireland forever."
| Éirinn go Brách | /Erin guh brawk/ |
Fun fact: this Irish nationalistic saying was first anglicised as "Erin Go Bragh" in 1847 during the Mexican-American War when a group of Irish-American U.S. Army deserters joined the Mexican side and formed Saint Patrick's Battalion, or Los San Patricios.
"A pint of Guinness, please."
| Pionta Guinness, le do thoil. | /pyunta Guinness leh duh hull/ |
The Irish have long been known for being voracious drinkers. Take the opportunity this St. Patrick's Day to impress your friends with a little Irish when you ask the bartender to pour you another pint. Make it Guinness, because what else would you drink on St. Patty's Day?
"The grace of God be with you."
| Rath Dé ort! | /rah jay urt/ |
The Irish are as spiritual as they are proud. We recognize this saying in English as a part of traditional Catholic masses, as well as a kind greeting and farewell to those we meet. I wonder what "And also with you" is in Gaelic...
Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day with a flair for tradition with these Irish sayings; it's sure to bring out the inner Irish in you!
