Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here is a little History for you.
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. But for all his celebrity, his life remains somewhat of a mystery.
Taken Prisoner By Irish Raiders. It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. He is believed to have died on March 17, around 460 A.D. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity. During this time, he worked as a shepherd, outdoors and away from people. Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.) After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, God's-spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish. Familiar with the Irish language and culture, Patrick like many before him including Christ, chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity. Rather than of attempting to eradicate native Irish beliefs he would give them new meaning. For instance, he used bonfires to celebrate Easter since the Irish were used to honoring their gods with fire. He also superimposed a sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross, so that veneration of the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish. Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. So for the most part St. Patrick did indeed Christianize Ireland.
Did St. Patrick remove the snakes from Ireland. Well some contend there were never were any physical snakes there to begin with. But in a symbolic way he did indeed remove the snakes from Ireland in the hearts of the Irish people. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the eradication of pagan ideology from Ireland and the triumph of Christianity. Within 200 years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely Christianized.
The first St. Patrick's Day parades were in not in Ireland but in NYC staring March 17, 1762.
For symbols and recipes and more fun facts click the link below from the History Channel.
Well, here I am, trying to catch up on my comments. Been to long off. Trying to do this between laundry loads.
I hope you're doing well in your neck of the woods. I imagine you're waiting for spring like all of us. I think we all have a touch of spring fever beginning. Tired of this old cabin fever.
Here's wishing you a good week, what's left of it.
The weather was quite warm for early March yesterday...It almost hit 70. It should be close to that again today....with the possibility of some rain. I just hope we don't get a rash of really cold weather again, after this great weather we've been having. I pray all is well with you. Thank you for your friendship.
Another beautiful sunny day yesterday. High of 63. Just delightful. The next 3 days are to be 61, 61 and 65. I hope we are over the hump now, and Spring is on it's way. Hope your day goes well. God Bless.
Because I have been married to the most wonderful man for 30 years. now.. It was a wonderful weekend here... Hubby and I ran errands, ate lunch out, and just played and had a good time on Saturday as it was beautiful out... on Sunday because the rain (drizzle) was here early and all day, we stayed in and watched all the shows we had on tivo all day long... I even cooked brunch and an early dinner... what a wonderful way to celebrate 30 years together... and I love him more than the day we married... Just wanted to stop by and check on you. and wish you the best of weeks... Hope you wil stop by when you have time and know that even though I don't get here as often as I would like, I am thinking of you...
Hello my friend, I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I am alive and well. Things have been kind of hectic here lately with the transitioning of the new company into our new home at work. This began the middle of February and we have just completed the moving part a week ago today. Now all we have to do is work out the bugs of the new networks (both computer and phones) and figure out where we put everything! So far everything is going well. We were able to make the move and still make and repair product and ship the product to our customers.
Yesterday, I had an appointment at the VA Hospital in Manchester, NH to have an eye exam as I am noticing some changes in my vision. I will be getting a new prescription to include trifocals so that I can stop tilting my head up or down to clearly see the computer screen! I also told them that I was having problems at night time with the glare of headlights of other vehicles. Hopefully the anti-glare coating will take care of that. While I was there, I had to have a couple of prescriptions renewed and also got both the regular flu shot as well as the H1N1 shot. I seem to be dragging a bit today and feeling stiff all over.
Please accept my apologies for not being on the Hill as much as what I used to be. Working 10 hour days does have a habit of taking its toll on a person. I wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day and
Had another stressful night with my back spasms. Had to sleep on the couch instead of my bed. I don't understand why these come and go as they do. Oh well. Low to mid forties today and tomorrow, followed by low to mid fifties on Sat and Sun. All of these days will be free of rain or snow. All partly cloudy, except for a sunny day on Sat.
I'm glad the roads are good as I will be driving a resident here at the my apt. to a doctors in London. She has upcoming knee surgery, and her heart doctor needs to make sure she's up to the task.
This Winter has been the worst since I've lived here in Kentucky. I remember 3 yrs. ago, my Bradford Pear trees were in beautiful white bloom in February.....Everyone has 'cabin-fever' and can't wait for consistently warmer weather to make it's way to these hills and hollers.
Hello dear Sharon! Stopping by to see how my sweet friend is doing. I hope all is well. I don't get out much unless it's to a smaller store, my knees are so very very bad, i will be having surgery sometime this summer. I will be glad when it's all over and i can get back to doing the things i enjoy. I miss you dear sweet Sharon. Always know your loved and appreciated. I am blessed by our friendship. God bless you always, love Kathie
How have you been? I'm just out "hiking" around on The Hill a little since the SoCal weather is not to my liking right now for hiking the many trails around where I live. I have gotten out quite a few times so far this season. Because of our more than normal rainfall, all of our mountains and canyons are green and the streams are flowing. I have visited some of our "wet weather" waterfalls that are in the area. I'm hoping that all of the "wet" will bring us some fantastic wildflowers so I can get some good photographs this year.
Stop by and visit me whenever you have the time. It's always nice to hear from you.
Only going to 35 today, but it gets progressively better as the week goes on. 40's on Friday, 50's Saturday and Sunday and finally in the 60's again by next Monday. I can take that. Hope you are well and your weather is not very bad.
Well, more snow showers today and tomorrow. Mid 30's today, almost 40 for high tomorrow. Spring...where for art thou? Can't wait to see the trees budding out and the flowers popping through the ground. The Robins have returned several weeks ago. It shouldn't be too far away.
It's going to be in the low 40's today, and believe it or not, NO rain and NO snow. That will be a welcome change. Hope all is well where you are located. God Bless.
