James Michael was born on St. Patrick's Day. He's not 100 percent Irish, but I believe that he will have the "Luck of the Irish" all his life.

Although the Irish have been a spectacularly unlucky people, most Irishmen and women feel blessed. This irony goes back to the Old Country when the great potato famine caused misery among the Irish compatriots.

Many people believe that Luck of the Irish owes its origin to our country. When they first arrived from Ireland, they were treated badly and often hated. When the Irish had any kind of success, most Americans at the time didn't think the Irish were capable such successes so they called it luck. Hence, the term Luck of the Irish meant the opposite of good luck back then. That's not true today.

Some historians trace the origin of the good Luck of the Irish to the times when many Irishmen planned for gold in the old West. A number of Irish people were lucky when they found their "pot o' gold" in the gold fields of California. Others were equally prosperous in the mining of silver.

I've heard it said that everyone is Irish on St. Patty's Day, March 17. At least we all wish for the luck of the Irish on that day.

How Irish are you? If you are out looking for a pot of gold, and you come across a leprechaun with a shillelagh, (pronounced: sha-lay'-li), that would mean he is carrying a big stick, has a four-leaf clover, or is walking a pot-bellied pig?

Which of the following animal legends is told about St. Patrick? He chased away rats by playing his flute. He could talk to the birds. He drove the snakes out of Ireland. Legend has it that if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you will have seven years bad luck, gain the gift of gab, or turn green.

Is the name Patrick derived from the Latin for Father of his people, hunter of snakes, or a brilliant light? The expression Erin Go Braugh means kiss me because I am Irish, Ireland forever, or everybody's Irish?

As for James Michael, since he was born on St. Patrick's Day he will forever be Irish. He will carry a wooden walking stick (shillelagh), be happy that St. Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland, will have the gift of gab if he kisses the Blarney Stone, know that Patrick means a noble father of his people in Latin, and that Erin Go Braugh means that Ireland is forever.

As I said, James Michael is part Irish and very lucky to be born on St. Patty's Day. It's a lesson that he will learn, since he's only a few days old as we speak.

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