St. Paddy's Pot o' Gold #4🍀 Traditional Cache

🍀For those familiar with our wee Pot o’ Gold geocaches, we placed a few wee cache & dashes in honor of St. Patrick on his Feast Day, hidden near a few of our gatherin’ places if ye dare try to find ‘em.🍀 

🍀St. Patrick was one of the patron saints of Ireland (along with St. Brigid). He was actually a Roman, born in Britain in the year 387. Patrick was captured by Irish pirates during a raid and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd sheep at age 14. During his captivity, he wrote The Confession, and welcomed God into his life. He escaped captivity at age 20 after a dream where God told him to leave by way of the coast. Some sailors found him and reunited him with his family in Britain. Patrick was ordained as a priest in 433 and he returned to Ireland (a land filled with Druids) to spread word of the Gospel, where he converted most of Ireland to Christianity within 40 years. During those years, he lived in poverty, traveled, and performed many miracles. One famous reference from St. Patrick is that he used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to people, and that is why we see shamrocks associated with him. He died on March 17, 461.🍀

🍀There are many myths and legends about St. Patrick and about his feast day, some true, and some not.  He did not banish the snakes from Ireland because there weren’t any to begin with. His Feast day is a national holiday in Ireland, where people get a day off work, but instead of drinkin’ and shenanigans, folks used to treat this as a solemn holiday of prayer and reflection.  Some folks call this day “the wearin’ of the green” but originally, the regal color for St. Patrick was a deep blue tone. (Think of the colors for Notre Dame!) Folks here in the United States like to enjoy corned beef and cabbage and soda bread on this day, yet this is probably more of a custom here than in Ireland. We often see images of Leprechauns posted everywhere on St. Patty’s Day, but Leprechauns and green beer really have nothin’ to do with St. Patrick and vice versa, but it’s all part of the fun for folks celebrating his feast day. Anything goes these days, and on March 17^th, everyone can be an honorary Irish person!  Erin Go Bragh! Happy St. Paddy’s Day!🍀

🍀And if ye aren’t familiar with our wee Pot o’ Golds….According to Irish lore, Leprechauns were once mighty warriors that had a magic spell cast on them causing them to be wee tiny magical lads. They live in hiding, sometimes in the roots of trees, or under rocks, or in fields, or other places we don’t normally think to look. Leprechauns spend their time collectin’ bits o’ gold and hidin’ it at the end of a rainbow. They’re seldom seen , very shy lil lads. Tis’ told that if ye are stealthy and lucky enough to catch one, ye get to keep his fortune.  Ye must be very sneaky cuz these lads will do anything to protect their pot o’ gold from bein’ stolen! The wee lad will use all kinds of trickery to get ye to take your eyes off him for a wee moment, and he and his gold will magically vanish! So if you’re ever walkin’ down an Irish lane, listen for a tiny tap-tap sound, and go to the hollow of an ancient tree, stump, rock, or torch…sneak up with stealth and take a peek to see if ye can spot the wee lil Leprechaun makin’ his wee lil shoes. If you're stealthy enough, perhaps ye might be lucky enough to grab his pile o' gold! Please don't be upset if a bit of his sparkly dust gets on ye, for it brings good luck.🍀

🍀St. Paddy’s Pot O’Gold #4 is a wee small fragile pot o' gold that needs to be kept in its waterproofin', with room only for log. Please use might stealth, especially on St. Paddy's Day! Please BRING YOUR OWN PEN.🍀