If You Like It, Then You Shoulda Put a Ring on It

"My heartbeat's a jig/and me blood it flows green" -Kiss Me I'm Irish, Gaelic Storm

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I don't care what nationality you are; everyone is Irish today.
So, wear the green, drink up, dance and celebrate this lovely day.

I'm only half Irish, but my mother taught me to be very proud of those roots.
I took Irish dance for three years, and I still fit in my fancy dress, curly wig, and gillies (dance shoes). And, there's something about Irish music that makes me feel good.

I don't speak Gaelic (pog ma thoin), and I've never been to Eire, but I'm still plenty proud of my roots.

The one way I rep it, is with my claddagh ring.
(As do many other people, Irish or not. But hey, everyone's Irish today).

The claddagh ring has been noted as one of the most culturally rich pieces of jewelry ever crafted. According to Kai Silver, the claddagh has a rich history, dating back more than 300 years. The best guess is that the rings came from the small Irish fishing village Claddagh. It bears the symbol of two hands holding a crowned heart. The hands holding the heart represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty. Kai Silver sums up the claddagh's message as, "Let Love and Friendship Reign Forever."

The way the ring is worn says something about the wearer.
Married or engaged persons wear the ring on their left hand with the bottom of the heart pointing towards them (because their heart is taken). Those who are in a relationship wear the ring on their right hand in the same fashion.

Those who are single and seeking love wear it on their right hand with the bottom of the heart facing outward (because their heart is open).

My claddagh ring has special significance to me. My grandfather brought it for my mother from Ireland. When she outgrew it, she gave it to me. The ring is so small that it only fits on my pinky fingers, and it's missing the garnet it once bore, but I love it nonetheless. Even though I'm not married, I wear it on my left hand, because I already have my high school class ring on my right hand ring finger, and the two would just clash.

Slainte!