“In Dublin's fair city,
where the girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh…!"
St. Patrick's Day was established as a way to recognize Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Originally it was a religious holiday, however over the years as Irish immigrants spread out over the United States, many cities developed their own celebrations and traditions.
One of these is Chicago’s annual dyeing of the Chicago River green. The practice started in 1962, when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river--enough to keep it green for a week! Today, in order to minimize environmental damage, only 40 pounds of dye are used, and the river turns green for only several hours. Still, quite a fun thing to see.
I belong to a proud Irish family who celebrates St. Patrick's Day in a big way. On March 17th we will join the millions around the world who will don a bit of green and celebrate the Irish with parades, parties, good cheer, and of course, a pint of beer!
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'Molly Malone' is now for sale in out etsy store.
