Irish Flowers For St. Patrick's Day

These three postcards are part of  ST. PATRICK SERIES NO. 5 by Nash.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Good Luck on St. Patrick's Day

Erin Go Bragh

These two St. Patrick's Day greeting postcards both have the phrase Erin go Bragh. Erin go Bragh is the anglicisation of an Irish language phrase, Éirinn go Brách, and is used to express allegiance to Ireland. It is most often translated as "Ireland Forever."  (Wikipedia)

A Scottish song from the 19th century entitled Erin-go-Bragh tells the story of a Highland Scot who is mistaken for an Irishman. Another version is an Irish rebel one, also called The Row in the Town. Here is that version of Erin Go Bragh as sung by the Wolfe Tones:

The Wolfe Tones - Erin Go Bragh 

I'll sing you a song of a row in the town,
When the green flag went up and the Crown flag came down,
'Twas the neatest and sweetest thing ever you saw,
And they played that great game they called Erin Go Bragh.

God bless gallant Pearse and his comrades who died
Tom Clark, MacDonagh, MacDiarmada, McBride,
And here's to James Connolly who gave one hurrah,
And faced the machine guns for Erin Go Bragh.

Now one of our leaders was down in Ring's end,
For the honour of Ireland to hold and defend,
He had no veteran soldiers but volunteers raw,
Playing sweet Mauser music for Erin Go Bragh.

Old Ceannt and his comrades like lions at bay,
From the South Dublin Union poured death and dismay,
But what was then often the entaylors men saw
All the dead karki soldiers on Erin Go Bragh.

A great foreign captain was raving that day,
Saying, "Give me one hour and I'll blow you away,"
But a big Mauser bullet got stuck in his jaw,
And he died of lead poisoning on Erin Go Bragh.

A glory to Dublin, and to her we renown,
In the long generations her fame will go down,
And our children will tell how their forefathers saw,
The red blaze of freedom in Erin Go Bragh.

Top of the Morning to You

"Top of the Morning to You" is a a traditional Irish greeting that is often associated with St. Patrick's Day. When you say "top of the morning to you" to someone, you are wishing them the best part of the morning. The traditional reply is "and the rest of the day to yourself.," wishing them a good rest of the day.

 

"The Wearing of the Green" is another phrase associated with St. Patrick's Day, and it is common to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. "The Wearing of the Green" is an Irish ballad lamenting the repression of supporters of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It is to an old Irish air, and many versions of the lyric exist. The song proclaims that "they are hanging men and women for the wearing of the green".

St. Patrick's Day - Lucky Shamrock

May St. Patrick's four-leaved shamrock bring you luck!

This postcard of a pretty colleen and her four-leaved shamrock is signed by artist HBG.

VTT - The Wearing of the Green

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

We associate the wearing of green with St. Patrick's Day. Historically, the color green was used as a symbol of Irish patriotism and of sympathy for Irish independence. The song "The Wearing of the Green" is about the repression around the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Wearing the green was prohibited at that time and was punishable. Many versions of the song lyrics exist. Here is one version (source: Triskelle)

"O Paddy dear, and did ye hear the news that's going round?
The shamrock is by law forbid to grow on Irish gound!
No more Saint Patrick's Day we'll keep, his colour can't be seen
For there's a cruel law against the Wearing of the Green."

I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,
And he said, "How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?"
"She's the most distressful country that ever yet was seen,
For they're hanging men and women there for Wearing of the Green."

"So if the colour we must wear be England's cruel red
Let it remind us of the blood that Irishmen have shed;
And pull the shamrock from your hat, and trow it on the sod
But never fear, it will take root there, though underfoot 'tis trod.

When laws can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow
And whem the leaves in summer time their colour dare not show,
Then I will change the colour too I wear in my caubeen;
But till that day, please God, I'll stick to the Wearing of the Green."

My thingies this week are potholder versions of green wearables. First is a pair of crocheted potholder dresses.

Next is an "Overall Sam" applique potholder. Overall Sam is the male counterpart to Sunbonnet Sue. Both Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam have sun hats hiding their heads. Sue is usually shown in a side view, while Sam is often shown in a rear view.

I'm participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday

St. Patrick's Day -- Guinness Beer

Guinness is an Irish beer, especially popular on St. Patrick's Day. This Guinness Beer postcard is an odd size: 2-7/8" x 5-3/4". Its age is unknown — possibly 1970s. Under the picture is printed "GUINNESS STOUT Imported by — THE GUINNESS-HARP CORP., NEW YORK, N.Y."