Snippitts of Illusions

Erin go bragh!

St. Patrick's day has come and is now going. Soon it will be gone. I love St. Patrick's Day, I'm not entirely sure why. Sure, I have a bit of Irish heritage: My last name came from Scotland by way of Ireland. But that was in the mid 1800's, my Danish ancestry is more recent and prominent than that of the Irish. Perhaps it's because St. Patrick's Day is becoming the world's holiday... well maybe not the entire world, but I'd wager more non-Irish, and non-Catholics celebrate it than do Irish Catholics. And it hasn't, unlike so many other holiday's, hasn't completely fallen into the pit of commercialism that makes Christmas so sickening. Sure bars and liquor companies make and killing, and advertise for this one day. But they've been doing that for years. As long as Sprint, AT&T, Microsoft and Apple can't find a reason to legitimize their products with this holiday I'l be happy. Then there is of course the mythology involved also, and I'm a huge sucker for myths.

I've read Greek, Roman, Indian, Native American, Mayan, Norse, Chinese, Japanese and Celtic/Irish myths (they aren't completely one in the same).Some of these were watered down collected works, others not so much, and of all of them, the Irish has always been my favorite. The tales of The Cattle Raid of Coolley, Finn and the Finians. The stories of the wars fought between the Tuacha de Dannan and the Formorians and the Firbolgs. These stories have always been my favorite of the myths I've encountered. Perhaps because they are so common: Sure Cu Chullain was a bit super human, but his wasn't a story of 12 great feats, or even slaying a dragon. Nope, his was a story from protecting a small kingdom (about the size of two of the larger counties here in Utah) from an invading army.... that wanted to steal a bull. Yep. A bull. The whole of the story is full of fantastic events. But at the root of it all was everyday Celtic life. Their lives revolved around raiding each other for cattle and slaves, and bringing in meager harvests. The greastest epic of that period, was pretty much about the same thing.
I respect that. It almost makes it belieavable.

Now over the course of 2000 years (for the Cattle Raid of Coolley and the storieis of the Tuacha de Dannan) the myths have been Christianized, much like the stories and Poetic Eddas of the Norse. But that doesn't deter the fascination I have with them.

I spent my St. Patrick's Day at work. Throwing freight. Dealing with the tired politics that can only happen at a grocery store. Wondering what all of those people I've enjoyed St. Patrick days in the years past were doing tonight. Craving a bit of Guinness (which I didn't get) and corned beef and cabbage (which I might make this weekend.) I can only hope that next year will be the year for the reemergence of my own little St. Patrick's Day celebration. I hope so. I'd love to drink to Cu Chullain, and to Odin, as well as dear ol' Patrick, with out which, the day wouldn't exist.

posted by F.G. Shaw @ 12:17 AM