Even before the plethora of buttons, pins, and plastic trinkets boasting sayings like “Kiss me I’m Irish,” special proverbs, blessings, and curses marked St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, held on March 17th each year. Here are a few classic quotes about St Patrick’s Day:

• “St. Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people. He built a church in Dublin town and on it put a steeple.” –Henry Bennet
• “The list of Irish saints is past counting; but in it all no other figure is so human, friendly, and lovable as St. Patrick – who was an Irishman only by adoption.” –Stephen Gwynn
• “St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time, a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.” –Adrienne Cook

And some fireside blessings for St Patrick:

With the powers that were granted to Patrick I bank this fire.
May the angels keep it in, no enemy scatter it.
May God be the roof of our house
for all within
and all without,
Christ’s sword on the door
till tomorrow’s light.

I rake this fire as the pure Christ rakes us all.
With Mary at the foot and Brigid at the head.
And may the eight brightest angels
From the City of Grace
Preserve this house and all it’s people
To the coming of the day

And, of course, just some sayings to remind of us what it means to be Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day:

• As you slide down the banister of life, may the slivers never point in the wrong direction.
• May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a road downhill all the way to your door.
• Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.
• “Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. We want people to enjoy themselves and learn something about the great culture and traditions of Ireland.”–John B. Keane
• “In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs.”–Sir John Pentland Mahaffy

And let the last word be from our man himself:

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the stern.

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I hope you enjoyed these sayings for St. Patrick’s Day. You may also want to know how to say Happy St Patrick’s Day in the Irish language. There are also many toasts for St Patrick’s Day.

Did you enjoy this post on St Patrick? He spoke Irish Gaelic. That’s Ireland’s language that he used to spread his word. Click here to learn Irish Gaelic sayings for St Patrick’s Day.