March is for Irish Toasts-Quotes-Blessings
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03, 2019
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03, 2019
St. Patrick – Did You Know?
SOURCE: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en
We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, dancing, special foods, and a whole lot of green whether you have an Irish heritage or not.
In Ireland the day was a mostly religious celebration. In fact, until the 1970s pubs were closed on March 17. “You just donned your homemade St Patrick’s Day badge or pinned a fistful of muddy shamrock to your lapel and went out to Mass to sing Hail Glorious St Patrick.”
Do you know these other facts about the patron saint of Ireland?
- He was not Irish, but British.
He was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century. Kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teen, they took him to Ireland to work as a shepherd. He escaped and returned to Britain. He spent the next 15 or so years in a monastery, preparing for his missionary work. Pope Celestine I consecrated St. Patrick as Bishop of the Irish around 431.
- He was never a saint canonized by the Roman Catholic church
During the Church’s first millennium, most saints received their title if they were martyrs or counted to be extraordinarily holy. St. Patrick was the latter. He converted many from paganism and became known as the Apostle of Ireland and made the patron saint of the isle.
His familiarity with the Irish language and culture made the Irish receptive to his teachings because he took familiar Celtic symbols and Christianized them. That led to many legends attributed to St. Patrick.
Celtic cross -St. Patrick combined the Irish pagan symbol of the sun with the Christian cross creating the Celtic cross, the icon of Ireland and Irish faith.
Shamrock -He explained the trinity to the Irish pagans with the three leaves of the shamrock. Though there’s no proof he ever did this, the shamrock metaphor remains strong in Irish Christianity.
Snakes – Allegedly when snakes attacked him during a 40-day fast, he chased them to the sea. Ireland doesn’t have snakes so this is total legend. More likely, he used snakes as a metaphor for the evil Druids and pagans.
Lent Fasting – He’s said to have climbed Croagh Patrick, County Mayo and fasted at the summit for the forty days of Lent. True or not, thousands of pilgrims make the trek to the top of Croagh Patrick yearly. I’ve been to Croagh Patrick, but, not to the summit.
Beannachtí na Feile Pádraig
Happy St Patricks Day
6
03, 2019
March is for Irish Toasts-Quotes-Blessings
March always stirs my Irish roots. Wednesdays this month I will be sharing memes of Irish toasts and quotes and blessings. Some are serious and thoughtful; others for a laugh. Irish scenery backgrounds will be pictures taken on trips to Ireland.
Enjoy!
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02, 2019
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02, 2019
Valentine cards – the legend and origin
As a writer of love stories, February 14th is one of my very favorite holidays. As a history buff, I love the legend and the origin of sending valentine cards. Valentines are the mirror of romance.
The LEGEND
A real priest who lived in 270 A.D., Saint Valentine provided Christians with sacraments outlawed by the Roman Empire such as marriage for soldiers forbidden to marry and baptism.
Around 498 A.D., Pope Gelasius honored Valentinus by declaring February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day. The day now appears in the calendar of saints in the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church.
Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment, giving them to the soldiers and persecuted Christians to “remind them of God’s love and to encourage them to remain faithful Christians.”
That action, whether fable or real, began the custom of giving cards and reminders to loved ones on February 14.
THE ORIGIN
In spite of technology and ecards retail Valentine card sales continue to grow. It’s estimated that about 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are purchased each year.
Artist Esther Howland (1828–1904) was the first to publish and sell Valentine cards in the United States. Before Esther, the cards were hand made with paper, lace, and ribbons and handwritten poetry. The American Antiquarian Society in Worcester holds a large collection of her valentines.
Most Valentines were mass-produced by machine by the end of the 19th century. Creative people like my friend still send handmade cards.
If you read my blog often, you know I collect vintage holiday post cards. Here are my favorite Valentines. While not as elaborate, I love the way these cards speak of romance.
Valentines express our love to others. Will you send valentines to show someone you love them this Valentine’s Day?
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02, 2019
It’s February and Love is in the Air
Hearts are everywhere. 
Commercials are pushing chocolates, wine, fancy dinners, lingerie, and Hallmark cards. Florists are offering specials on roses. Love songs flow from the airways.
The commercialization bothers me a bit. The statistics stagger me.
The National Retail Federation anticipates $19.6 billion in Valentine expenditures this year, up from $18.2 billion last year. Those 25-34 will be the biggest spenders at an average of $202.76.This year’s survey broke expenditure averages down this way:
$88.98 on their significant other/spouse ($12.1 billion)
$25.29 on other family members such as children or parents ($3.5 billion)
$7.26 on children’s classmates/teachers ($991 million)
$7.19 on friends ($982 million)
$5.50 on pets ($751 million)
$4.79 on co-workers ($654 million)
Cards, flowers, jewelry, and fine dinners are all very romantic gestures to express love on this special day. If you have the funds and want to be extravagant, who am I to stop you? Go for it!
BUT, I’d like to suggest gifts don’t have to involve great expense. Nothing’s better than a homemade Valentine card or a home cooked meal served by candlelight.
Need ideas: Check the February editions of magazines or Pinterest. Most are loaded with DIY ideas for valentine cards and gifts.
More important, remember, it’s the day-to-day things that really show true love.
- A hug
- A back rub after a tiring day
- An affirming text that arrives at the perfect moment
- Holding hands
And, if you’re shy about expressing yourself with words or cards , you can always give a sign for I love you from Signing Savvy.
21
01, 2019
Starting 2019 with Martin Luther King
Today we honor Martin Luther King, the symbol for non-violent protest since the sixties Civil Rights Movement. His leadership in a trying time inspired change. He stirred, and still stirs, our conscience with his words.
Here are some of my favorites:
- “Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
- “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
- “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
- “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”
- “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
Are we forwarding the vision he set forth in these quotes today? Why not make this MLK Day the start of a year in which we purpose to move forward.
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12, 2018
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12, 2018
Holiday Greetings
Happy Christmas Eve!
View from the Front Porch will be on hiatus December 27 through January 7. Before we go we want to share this free image from my friend and fellow blogger, Edie Melson. It’s such a great reminder about the true meaning of Christmas.
From Chicken Wrangler Sara and me, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate tomorrow and a safe and blessed New Year’s Eve.
See you in 2019!
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12, 2018
