Green light for St Patrick's Day
Ireland, 1558 BC Blue Smoke (432 AD). An impressive crowd stands on the green grass of the vast Brega plain. Peasants and villagers from various clans have gathered, elbow to elbow, despite long-standing resentment. But none of them seems to care. All their attention is focused on this man from Brittany. His name is Patrick and he speaks the language of this pagan land remarkably well.
It was St Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat. Desirous of driving all the "snakes" out of Ireland, he spent weeks honing his speech, which he judged convincing enough to convert the most recalcitrant Irish. From the high tower of the Rock of Cashel, he addressed the Irish people and explained the Trinity to them. The Irish looked at him, dumbfounded, not seeming to understand a word of his holy words.
A woman, wearing a headdress whose tired colours are barely visible, stares at him with round eyes. She speaks to her husband, telling him thatshe doesn't understand a word this man saysand shrugs his shoulders. Our friend Patrick tried in vain to explain the Trinity by conjuring up images, then using personal examples of his faith, or using poetic figures, numbers and general concepts. To no avail, the audience was impervious to his words. He raised his eyes to the heavens, taking care that no one noticed his somewhat exasperated reaction to so much obscurantism.
Suddenly, his attention is drawn to a clover, whose three single leaves vibrate in the Irish breeze. But of course! he exclaims. If this doesn't get through to them, I'm going home in the warm. So he picks up the frail, delicate shamrock and shows it to the sceptical crowd. "Look", he says. "The Trinity is like this: there's the Father, that's the top leaf. Then his Son, on the right. And finally, the Holy Spirit. And the shamrock forms a whole, like the Trinity.
The Trinity is like this: there's the Father, on the top sheet. Then his Son, on the right. And finally, the Holy Spirit. And the shamrock forms a whole, like the Trinity.
Everyone stared at the three-leaf clover, and when the explanation was over, the crowd rose to their feet and cheered. And so the shamrock became the symbol of Ireland.
A juicy anecdote
In 1903, St Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland, thanks to the 1903 Bank Holiday Act, an act of the UK Parliament introduced by James O'Mara. He later introduced the law requiring pubs to close on 17 March, after alcohol consumption is out of controlThis clause was later repealed in the 1970s. When St Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, the public holiday is moved to Monday, allowing Irish citizens to enjoy the full number of public holidays enacted by the government.
Blue Smoke Spirit goes green
St Patrick's Day is St Patoche's Day
It's clear that in Switzerland, St Patrick's Day is all about celebrating friendship and the pleasure of sharing a moment together. So we thought we'd give you a chance to share a moment with friendsIn honour of your last St Patrick's Day (who hasn't?).
So we came up with a St Patrick's Day survival kitWith two beers and two cigars to share your theories on Leprechauns, elves, shamrocks and the plunging neckline of the fairy you met at the bar, it's sure to be a lively evening with friends.
And it was with great pleasure that we adorned ourselves with a local, artisanal beer from Brasserie morgienne. GBDV. The Blue Smokers are delighted to be working with you again.
A pairing we love
A 6.60 and a Gigi. Quite simply
In this St Patrick's Day kit to share with friends, we've chosen two nuggets.
The 6.60 of El Sueño offers earthy and undergrowth aromas, which then evolve towards notes of dark chocolate. A powerful, gourmet cigar, we think it's one of the most appropriate for an evening celebrating friendship with your Saint-patoche friend.
And to complete this special moment with friends, there's nothing better than clinking your beer. The GIGI from the Morgian brewery GBVD. A delicious Pale Ale that will create an explosion of flavour in your gullet!
St Patrick's Day is fantastic!
