17 MARCH

Beannachtai la fheile Padraig. Today is the feast of St. Patrick.

The 17th day of March yearly is Saint Patrick's, an immoveable feast when ye Irish of all stations and conditions wear crosses in their hats, some of pins, some of green ribbon, and the vulgar superstitiuosly wear shamroges, 3 leaved grass which they likewise eat to cause a sweet breath. -from the Diary of Thomas Dinely, 1681.

A detailed life of St. Patrick can be found here.

St. Patrick is not only the patron of Ireland, but is also the patron saint of the Isle of Man. In addition he is the co-patron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in which jurisdiction the keyboard producing this blog resides.