The Crib Sheet for Speakin’ Like a Leprechaun

Time to get your Irish on. You can wear green and you can eat traditional Irish favorites and you can even drink green beer but can you understand the Irish brogue?

Courtesy of YANKEE

magazine, a mini glossary of St. Patrick's Day green tinted phraseology!

--Banshee: Female spirit. According to Irish folklore, this fairy woman's wailing was the harbinger of doom.
--Boxty: Potato pancakes or griddle cakes, Irish-style.
--Bushmills: The world's oldest distillery (since 1608), located on the coast of Ireland in County Antrim.
--Champ: A popular mashed potato dish made with scallions, milk and butter.

--Coddle: Potato and pork casserole; the traditional Irish Saturday night supper, enjoyed with a few pints of Guinness stout.
--Crubeens: Brined and boiled pigs' feet.
--Irish coffee: Hot, strong black coffee, sugar to taste, with a measure of Irish whiskey, all topped with cold, fresh heavy cream.
--Irish Mist: A blend of four whiskeys, along with honey, heather, clover, and the essences of more than a dozen herbs.

--Jackeens: Dublin natives, so called by Irish country people.
--Stout: A strong, dark, malty-tasting beer. Ireland's most popular drink, considered a national treasure. The Guinness family began brewing its stout in 1759 along the banks of Dublin's River Liffey at St. James Brewery, where it has been produced ever since.
--Tightener: A filling supper

Now you know, so get out there and pretend to be Irish, unless you live in Massachusetts, then chances are you really are!