St. Patricks Day 2024 is upon us, turning our attention to shamrocks, binge drinking, and the perceived luck of the Irish; famine, civil war, and subjugation by the English notwithstanding,
The holiday is celebrated on March 17, the ordained feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who may or may not have been a Welshman.
A former slave who became a priest, Patty, given name Maewyn Succat, had a lot of “luck” converting the Irish to Christianity.
According to legend, Patty Cakes used the clover, otherwise known as the shamrock, as a visual aid to explain the concept of the holy trinity of father, son, and holy spirit to the pagan people.
It was an easy sell as the Celts already regarded four-leaf clovers as a powerful symbol of protection/luck that made faeries and gold-hoarding leprechauns visible to the holder and kept them free from evil, spiritual snares and venereal disease.
History of St. Patrick’s Day
The Catholic church established St. Patrick’s feast day in 1631, in the dead center and dry heart of the season of Lent. The faithful really started leaning into the revelry in the early 18th century when they realized celebrating the saint was a kind of loophole that temporarily freed them from obligations of lenten sacrifice/abstinence.
A day off from being good if you will.
“Drinking in Ireland is not simply a convivial pastime, it is a ritualistic alternative to real life, a spiritual placebo, a fumble for eternity, a longing for heaven, a thirst for return to the embrace of the Almighty.”
John Waters
The sentiment persists. In the words of Irish journalist and cultural critic John Waters who writes, “Drinking in Ireland is not simply a convivial pastime, it is a ritualistic alternative to real life, a spiritual placebo, a fumble for eternity, a longing for heaven, a thirst for return to the embrace of the Almighty.”
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Across the Atlantic, the first New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in 1762 but it wasn’t until the Irish Rebellion of 1798 that green became the preferred hue of the people. During the rebellion, the Brits wore red and the Irish wore green, a sartorial choice immortalized in the street ballad “The Wearing of the Green” and honored by celebrants of the saint and champions of the cause to this very day.
In honor of the saint, his shamrocks, and our collective fumble for eternity, we bring you a list of the luckiest signs in the zodiac. For kicks, make sure and read our list of the zodiac signs most likely to win the lottery and how to leverage Numerology to pick your own lucky numbers.
ARIES (March 21 – April 19)
Audacious in approach, Aries is not afraid to gamble, shoot their shot, drive blindfolded, or accept a dubious dare. Undaunted by failure or road rash, they come back again and again to try their luck, and most of the time, their gumption pays off. Case in point, lottery legend/luckiest woman in the world, Aries Joan R. Gunther won not one but FOUR multi-million dollar jackpots. A trained mathematician, Gunter won her first pot using the numbers in her birthday.
How good is her luck?
As the author Nathaniel Rich points out, the odds of a quadruple win like Gunther’s is a cool one in eighteen septillion, for reference that’s the approximate number of stars in the universe and grains of sand on planet Earth.
LEO (July 23 – August 22)
As the adage maintains, fortune favors the bold, and Leo is bold b–ch energy incarnate. Lion folk have an animal kind of magnetism that draws admirers and benefactors aplenty. Ruled by the sun, luck seems to shine on these people who prove that the battle for fortune is won by believing you deserve it.
A prime example of a lucky lion is Fidel Castro who is estimated to have survived 630 assassination attempts in his lifetime, including but not limited to mob hits, exploding baseballs, poisoned cigars, and turncoat lovers.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon, and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)
Charm is the lubricant of luck and Libras have it in spades. Ruled by Venus these people have a knack for knowing what to say and for getting their way. Libra is also voted most likely to “get lucky” with a stranger they meet on their lunch break or their wife’s sister.
The domain of Libra is the seventh house of partnerships and they tend to expand through relationships, associations, and the genteel sport of social climbing.
Averse to gritty labor, Libras are cunning when it comes to their connections and fortunate in their ability to profit/benefit from friendships. I am willing to bet my own luck that this divisive, manifestation through facial contouring, chick credited with coining the viral “lucky girl syndrome” has a prominent Libra placement or two.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)
Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the benefic, pennies from heaven, extra guac, make it a double, roulette wheels for nipples planet of expansion and fortune. Natural optimists and notorious gamblers, archers generate luck because they are continually pushing their own, taking chances, and trusting the free fall of fate, a curious course that always seems to lead them to riches of the literal and metaphorical variety.
Not for nothing, Lucky Charms is the unofficial cereal of Sagittarians.
Check out more of The Post’s food astrology content:
- Here’s which beer embodies your zodiac sign
- What kind of pizza are you based on your zodiac sign?
- What wine are you based on your zodiac sign?
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girl’s guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.
