In the 1700’s and the 1800’s, mass immigrations from Ireland resulted in New York and Boston becoming major population centers for the Irish citizenry. The entire northeastern corridor can still claim millions of residents of Irish descent – so St. Patrick’s Day is a pretty big deal! From parades to dinners of corned beef and cabbage, this once-religious feast day has turned into a cultural phenomenon, one which every nationality celebrates. In fact, it is commonly noted that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish! At City Line Florist, we happen to agree. But we think that not only should you wear green, but your home should be adorned for the festivities as well! Many are surprised to learn that Patrick himself was not from Ireland. Born in Great Britain, the young Maewyn Succat was kidnapped by pirates and held in captivity in neighboring Ireland. After his release, he became a Catholic priest, his name became “Father Patrick”, and he returned to the site of his ordeal. His missionary work was credited with the conversion of the country from paganism to Christianity. There are several legends and symbols associated with St. Patrick’s Day:

* The Four-Leaf Clover: Although many think the shamrock is the lucky clover, Patrick actually used the far more common three-leaf variety to teach children about the Trinity. Finding one with four leaves is indeed lucky – in fact, your chances are only about 1 in 10,000.

* The Leprechaun: This strange mythical creature has an odd resume – he is both magical fairy and shoemaker. Perhaps one needs sturdy shoes to hike to the end of the rainbow!

* Snakes: St. Patrick was supposed to have driven all of the snakes out of Ireland, an act that is often depicted in paintings and statues. However, historians tell us that there were no snakes in the country at that time. The legend probably has its roots in the fact that the people Patrick was preaching to were pagan druids whose imagery often included snakes.

On St. Patrick’s Day, whether you wear green or drink green beer, it’s easy to get caught up in all the fun. Send spirited cheer to all of your Irish loved ones with green florals and plants from City Line Florist and remember – all of Trumbull is Irish on March 17th!