Outside Looking In

Irish eyes are shining

Irish eyes are smiling

St. Patrick's Day is Wednesday, March 17.
Although St. Patrick's Day isn't as big of a celebration as most other holidays, it can still be a fun family event.
Start by making some Irish-inspired recipes (we included one in this week's publication) such as Irish stew, Irish soda bread, or corned beef and cabbage. Indulge yourself in a steaming cup of Irish coffee with an Irish oatmeal scone.
Have everyone in your family wear something green. Play St. Patrick's Day trivia games that can be found online. Make some cute St. Patrick's Day shamrocks with the kids. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy this day.
The significance of March 17 is said to be the date of St. Patrick’s death in the late fifth century. Saint Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland and is credited with successfully spreading Christianity throughout Ireland.
The man who would eventually become St. Patrick was born in Britain, which was part of the Roman Empire at the time, as Maewyn Succat in the late fourth century.
When he was 16 years old, Maewyn was kidnapped from his home on the west coast of Britain by Irish pirates, who proceeded to carry him off to Ireland and force him to work as a shepherd herding sheep.
After six years, he escaped and walked 200 miles through the Irish landscape and convinced a ship captain heading to Britain to allow him aboard. Maewyn, who was said to be an atheist before the kidnapping, was convinced it was the Lord who protected him and delivered him safely home. From then on, he began spreading the word of Christianity.
Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated with parades, parties, green beer, and more. The celebrations emerged from Irish-Americans in the 1800s.
By the end of the century, large U.S. cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago were hosting major celebrations for everyone to take part in on March 17. The St. Patrick's Day festivities we familiarize ourselves with today are more American than Irish.
So, what's with the shamrock? Supposedly, we wear a shamrock on St. Patrick’s Day because St. Patrick used its three leaves to explain the Holy Trinity in his teachings. The symbol of St. Patrick is a three-leaf shamrock, not a four-leaf clover. However, long before the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the four-leaf clover was regarded by ancient Celts as a charm against evil spirits.
In the early 1900s, O. H. Benson, a high school superintendent in Iowa, came up with the idea of using a clover as the emblem for a newly-founded agricultural club for children in his area. In 1911, the four-leaf clover was chosen as the emblem for the national club program, later named 4-H.

Girl Scouts cookies
The Minneota Girl Scouts Troop 37814 will be selling their cookies from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hy-Vee store in Marshall. They will also be selling on Saturdays, March 20 and 27 at a location to be determined.

Spring ahead
Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night before heading to bed. Daylight Savings begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 14.

St. Patrick's humor
Q: Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover?
A: You don’t want to press your luck!

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