Hools: The Legend
On May 4, a long, long time ago, Hools Hananigans was born a peasant in a small, rural village in Ireland. Hools was a whiskeymaker by trade, and he lived a simple life and was a jolly fellow. Each day he tended to his duties, fermenting barley and mending oak casks, and each evening he told great stories through song, playing the fiddle and singing folklore of ol’. Lads and mai
dens gathered to hear Hools play and drink his fine whiskey, and they danced and were merry. A fair king ruled the kingdom, and the people lived happily. But, as the years passed, the people grew restless of the ol’ king’s rule, and the king grew sad. He tried everything to make the people happy, but could not succeed. Finally, the king sent messengers out to all ends of the kingdom to find just one happy person, and bring him back to the king to reveal his secret. Alas, messengers returned to the king, but all who returned did not find one happy person. After several unsuccessful searches by the king’s men, the king himself set out on a journey to find the missing messenger. The king traveled to many great cities, but to no avail. Towards the end of his journey, the king arrived at a small, rural village. As the king approached the village, however, he noticed something different—for the first time in his journey he saw people smile and he heard music. At the center of the village the music played gaily, and the people cheered and danced. At this instant the king made two discoveries: he found the missing messenger, dancing with a fair maiden in the village square, and he found happy people. The music stopped as the people recognized the king, and the crowd became silent. The king then shouted, “Who ye be who rouse up the spirits of the people with fine drink and song?” Slowly, Hools Hananigans walked to the king, and said, “It is I, good king.” After looking at Hools, the king proclaimed: “From this day forth, the day that marks the birth of this fellow shall be celebrated in all the land. This fellow warms the soul with song and the body with drink, and it is these two things, in good company, which make the heart merry.” The people cheered, and all, including the king, danced and drank through the night. All the people in the kingdom came to know of Hools Hananigans—a man who had little, but gave much. From thereon, the people celebrated every May 4 with spirits and song, remembering what, for most, is oft forgotten.
