Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Incidentally, this confusion over clovers led to a further confusion over the common ex-
pression “
luck of the Irish
.” In the 1800s, when half-starved famine victims were flood-
ing into America, they were seen as hapless and pitiable - someone who had the “luck of
the Irish” had no luck at all. No one knows exactly when Americans inverted the mean-
ing of the phrase, but it was right around the 1960s, and it's quite possible that Lucky
Charms cereal was, once again, to blame for the mistake.
The story of St. Patrick chasing the snakes out of Ireland is a popular allegory for his
converting the pagans and polytheists. For pious Catholics in Ireland, St. Patrick's Day
is a moment for prayer, reflection, and gratitude to the saint who brought them their re-
ligion - but they'll still happily participate in all the secular aspects of the celebration as
well.
