Everyone who knows the Emerald Island Casino knows that one of the holidays nearest and dearest to our hearts is St. Patrick’s Day! Co-Owners Tim and Mike Brooks named the casino in honor of their mother’s Irish heritage. Celebrate with us on March 17th at the best St. Patrick’s Day Party in Henderson, Nevada. All our players enjoy Corned Beef Sandwiches, Cake, Irish coffee, Hors d’oeuvres, and Party Favors!
(More pictures from our past parties here!)
You know all about our party, but do you know the history behind the iconic symbols associated with St. Patrick’s Day?
Irish Music
Irish culture is rich in musical heritage and that music is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day. The ancient Celts had a rich oral culture, where religion, legend and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.
After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish turned to music to help them commemorate important events and hold on to their heritage and history. Such music was outlawed by the English. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth the First decreed that all Irish pipers were to be arrested and prosecuted!
In modern times, traditional Irish bands like The Chieftains gained worldwide popularity. Their music is unique in that it uses age old instruments such as tin whistles, fiddles, and variations on bagpipes.
Shamrocks
The shamrock, known to the Celts as the “seamroy”, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. During the contested English rule, Irish land was seized and laws were made against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism. Many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.
Snakes
Ancient lore tell us that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop and with only a wooden staff in his hands and banished all the snakes from Ireland.
In truth, Ireland, being an island nation, was never home to any mass invasion of snakes. The “Banning of the Snakes” was really more of a metaphor for the triumph of Christianity over the old pagan ways.
Corned Beef
Each year, hundreds of our guests come to Emerald Island to enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day “traditional” meal of corned beef and cabbage. While cabbage has long been an Irish staple, corned beef began to be associated with St. Patrick’s Day around the turn of the 20th century when Irish immigrants in the East Side of New York City began replacing corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon.
Leprechauns
One of the best loved icons of St. Patrick’s Day is the Leprechaun. Originally the cheeky, fairy-like fellow was known as “lobaircin” or “small-bodied fellow”.
In Celtic lore, leprechauns were fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns, known for their trickery, were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. And of course, Leprechauns are known to use their powers to protect their much-fabled treasure.- Pots of Gold!
The entire Emerald Island Team wishes you “Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!” or Happy St. Patrick’s Day!