St Patrick's Jig

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

ST PATRICK'S JIG (J8x40) 3C (4C set) James B. Cosh 22 SCDs+1

1- 8 1s turn RH, cast 1 place, turn LH 1¾ times to Man facing up and Lady down while 2s+3s dance ½ R&L
9-16 1s dance RH across ½ way (Man up, Lady down), 1s dance RSh round 2nd corners to outside and dance RH across ½ way on sides, 1s turn LH to face 1st corners (2s and 3s now back in correct corners)
17-24 1s dance ½ reel of 3 across (Lady with 2s, Man with 3s giving LSh to 1st corner) and dance ½ reel of 3 on opposite side (RSh to 2nd corners)
25-32 1s dance ½ reel of 3 across (LSh to 3rd corner) and dance ½ reel of 3 on own side (RSh to 4th corner) to end facing 1st corners
33-40 1s turn 1st corners RH, partner LH, 2nd corner RH and partner LH to 2nd places

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints being Brigid of Kildare and Columba.

Patrick was never formally canonised, having lived before the current laws of the Catholic Church in these matters. Nevertheless, he is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Church of Ireland (part of the Anglican Communion), and in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is regarded as equal-to-the-apostles and Enlightener of Ireland.

According to legend, Patrick, originally from Britain, was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. During his captivity, he found solace in his Christian faith, eventually escaping and returning to Britain. After becoming a cleric, he felt a divine calling to return to Ireland as a missionary.

Saint Patrick is famously associated with using the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in Christianity. His efforts were instrumental in converting the predominantly pagan population of Ireland to Christianity.

March 17th, the traditional date of Saint Patrick's death, is celebrated as St. Patrick's Day worldwide. This day is marked with parades, festivals, and the wearing of green in honour of the saint. Saint Patrick's legacy extends beyond religious significance, becoming a symbol of Irish identity and culture globally.

"St Patrick Preaching To The Kings", Franz Borgias Mayer (1848-1926), Stained Glass Window, c. 1907
Bottom feature of the center stained glass window in the north transept of Carlow Cathedral of the Assumption, College Street, Graigue, Carlow, Ireland.

Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Saint Patrick article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Andreas F. Borchert, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, via Wikimedia Commons.

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