March 17th 2020

There really was a Saint Patrick. He was British, a priest, a bishop as an early missionary to Ireland in 432. He evangelized there for almost 30 years, until he died in 461. He is highly regarded in the Irish church, and is known as their patron saint. There is a myth that Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity, (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), to the Irish people.

• Saint Patrick’s feast days have been celebrated, by the Irish, since the 9th and 10th centuries and became part of the Catholic churches calendar in the early 1600’s. It’s a church festival.

• Green ribbons and shamrocks have been worn on clothing since the 17th century.


• The first parade held to honor St Patricks Day took place in the United States in 1762, where Irish soldiers in the English military marched through New York City. They played Irish music and celebrated their Irish roots. This little known religious holiday became greatly celebrated by Irish Americans to honor their ethnicity.


• In 1903, Saint Patrick’s Day became an official public holiday in Ireland, and became more secular, rather than just religious. Many visited the local pub or bar for a pint of beer to celebrate.

• In the mid 1990’s Ireland began Saint Patrick’s Day festivals to showcase their culture. Many cities hold parades and festivals.


• People in Chicago actually dye a portion of the Chicago River green on this day.

• In the United States this holiday is not a REAL one, but we have celebrated it since the late 18th century. It is a celebration of Irish and Irish American culture. There atrre celebrations, feasts, drinking beer, parades, religious celebrations, green clothing, and shamrocks. Interestingly enough there are 35 million Irish American immigrants, which is almost nine times the population of Ireland. No wonder it’s a popular holiday in America!


• The corn beef and cabbage meal associated with this day has an American twist. The traditional Irish meal was boiled bacon and potatoes, but in America, Irish immigrants could buy a cheap cut of beef called brisket, soak it in brine to tenderize it, and serve it with cabbage cooked in the brine. They made soda bread to go with it.


• On this day 13 million pints of Guinness, Irish stout, are consumed, which is twice the amount consumed on other days. Many of them are tinted green.


• The modern celebration has little to do with the man who started it all.

I was up quickly this morning,

and off on errands 

with only limited hours of sleep.

• dollar tree for specific items
• superstore for bread (for mom)
• valleyview to have coffee with dad
• drop bread off to mom
• pick up back ordered meds
• try to drop off donations (they were closed)
• pick up pop
• home
  

Once home I managed to put away groceries,

fold and then hang laundry,

and take over the posts for the event

so my partner could go take a nap.

John and I made a serious hunt

for the cat's ball collection...

which was under every item in this house.

We had an Italian meal for supper,

salad, garlic buns, stuffed shells and veal parm.

Wow. I was full.

I spent the evening

just relaxing.... I have plans for setting up

a couple huge projects to accomplish

during this lock down.

Good night from John Street

Garbage and recycling out out