At this time of year, our thoughts turn to Ireland with Saint Patrick’s Day. Irish blessings are a wonderful, uplifting way to celebrate that day. Ireland has always been known as a country of saints and scholars, so it is no surprise that they should also be known for blessings.
What is an Irish blessing? My definition is a wish for another’s good fortune. They are full of joy, but not prescriptive, by which I mean, you might say, “May your road be straight and sure in the year ahead,” but you cannot say, “May you learn to drive in a responsible manner.” Irish blessings look for the good in people, though they may be said in a humorous manner, such as one of the most famous sayings:
May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour
Before the devil knows you’re dead.
It’s fun to write a blessing for a friend or family member. Just remember to keep it positive, and the more specific the better, such as “May you never be served coffee in a tiny cup, and may your coffee never grow cold.”
Or perhaps a more serious one: “May you be getting a fine education at college, but may you never be forgetting to enjoy life as well.”
Find a whole page of Irish blessings at: http://www.quotelady.com/subjects/IrishBlessings.html
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