A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-17-04...Happy St. Patrick's Day

Dutchesss

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's St. Patrick's Day, and yes, we at the Finest WILL be hosting a party, BUT before you kick up your shoes, break out the food and drink….we must first sit back and see the history of this special day.

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast-on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

About St. Patrick

St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. 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.

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped to Britain. In several of his writing he spoke of a 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.

Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick's life became exaggerated over the centuries-spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life.

The First Parade

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes and drums.

No Irish Need Apply

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor, uneducated, Catholic Irish began to pour into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country 's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Wearing the Green Goes Global

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world.

Leprechauns

The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow." Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. In Celtic folktales, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Though only minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much-fabled treasure. Leprechauns had nothing to do with St. Patrick or the celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

In 1959, Walt Disney released a film called Darby O'Gill & the Little People, which introduced America to a very different sort of leprechaun than the cantankerous little man of Irish folklore. This cheerful, friendly leprechaun is a purely American invention, but has quickly involved into an easily recognizable symbol of both St. Patrick's Day and Ireland in general.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick's Day to share a "traditional" meal of corned beef and cabbage. Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of the century. Irish immigrants living on New York City's Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish bacon to save money. They learned about the cheaper alternative from their Jewish neighbors.

Shamrocks

A three-leafed clover, the shamrock is the national emblem of Ireland. The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule.

The shamrock was also said to be used by St. Patrick as he was spreading Christianity throughout Ireland by illustrating the Christian doctrine of the trinity. He used the three leaf shamrock to represent how the father, son and holy spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity

Music

Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day-and Irish culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an oral culture, where religion, legend, and history were passed from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.

After being conquered by the English, and forbidden to speak their own language, the Irish, like other oppressed peoples, turned to music to help them remember important events and hold on to their heritage and history.

Irish music continues to enjoy universal appeal today. Their music is produced with instruments that have been used for centuries, including the fiddle, the uilleann pipes, a sort of elaborate bagpipe, the tin whistle, a sort of flute that is actually made of nickel-silver, brass, or aluminum, and the bodhran, an ancient type of framedrum that was traditionally used in warfare rather than music.

An Irish Blessing

Before the celebration begins, let's all raise our glasses and join in this well know Irish Blessing

An Irish Blessing

May the roads rise to meet you.

May the wind be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

The rain fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again,

May God Hold you in the palm of his hand.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Finest Friends.... Let the Celebration Begin!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-15-03...Military Monday 03-16-04...My Kingdom for a Horse (Rerun)

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[LadyX]

Sure 'n the Irish have sweet and glib tongues, you Irish devil you..:))

{{{{{ Hugs and prayers for the Walsh Family !! }}}}}

[MeekOneGOP]

Snow ?? .... you've got SNOW ?!?!?! ....

Send us some ! We're gonna be well into Spring soon and I wanna see 4.5" of snow again !

;^)

[MeekOneGOP]

See there ?? It's 80 degrees right now. It was 82 an hour or two ago ...

[LadyX]

Meant to include your name, too, dear Woofie Toofums, in my Reply # 99...:))

[Aquamarine]

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Click on the pic

[LadyX]

Here's a picture of Sistah Nan and me dancin' alone -
fearless, we were!!

[Diver Dave]

Me thinks my Danish blood is flowin' a bit green today.

...an Irish saying - so the say...
No man ever wore a scarf as warm as his daughter’s arm around his neck.

[Texagirl4W]

I could tell it was hot when I left work. Had to turn on the air coming home. If you can believe this, I have to wear a long sleeve sweater all day at work. I belong on beach somewhere.

[jwalsh07]

And a Happy St Paddy's Day to you.

May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're gone.:-}

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep !

Man .... Summer is JUST around the corner, ya know ...

[lonestar]

Got this e-mail today----

Subject: Fw: President Bush and Sam Kettler E-MAIL

I just wanted to pass this information along to each of you so you know what a truly compassionate and caring man we have in President Bush.

My first cousin, Shawn Kettler, and his wife, Suzanne, and daughter, Laramie, lost their 6 year old son, Sam, in a drowning accident this past Saturday (March 6th), outside Gatesville. They all live within a few miles of the President's place in Crawford TX.

Sam and a young friend of his were walking around a tank when the mud gave way and Sam fell in the tank. The tank is a spring fed tank, and Sam was sucked under the water into a "sink hole" where the spring came into the tank. His little friend tried to get him out but was unable to reach him, so he ran about 200 yards to his house and told his grandmother.

The grandmother called 911 then went to the tank, but was unable to even see Sam. Sam's father and a volunteer fireman arrived first and began diving into the tank but were unable to locate Sam (I believe they said the water was about 10 feet deep). The Deputy Sheriff that received the 911 call was at the entrance to President Bush's ranch when the call came in. He told the Secret Service agents at the gate what was happening and they, in turn, radioed the ranch house.

President Bush told them to "Go - take all the men and equipment you need and just go". He also sent his personal physician and his helicopter over to the tank.

Sam was finally located and pulled from the water by one of the Secret Service agents (I believe there were 5 agents there all total). There was a faint pulse but they could not revive little Sam. President Bush's doctor began working on him and they loaded him into the Presidential helicopter and took him to Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. The doctors there worked on him for awhile, but he had been under water for 45 minutes, so there was really no hope for his recovery. And, had he survived, he would never have been the same.

Sam was truly a unique little boy who lived life to the fullest. And he loved the fact that "George Bush, the President" had chosen to live so close to his house.

When the family went to the funeral home in Gatesville on Sunday to make the arrangements, they were told everything had been paid for by an anonymous donor. After much "detective" work, it is believed that President Bush is that anonymous donor.

I just wanted all of you to hear this story so you know what a true gentleman our President is. And I ask that you pray for my family as they deal with this tragedy. And, lastly, please pray for our country and President Bush as he attempts to hold it all in place.

Don't ever forget to tell everyone close to you and possibly, some of those not so close, how much you love them. Tell them everyday because life is short and very unpredictable.

Sam's cousin

[dutchess]

Hey Aeronaut....I did 4 stalls by myself last Saturday...(and was okay with it) think I'm pushing a brick wall.... Is landing the next big thing....or more horrific stuff in store???? :o)

[Diver Dave]

Don't know a thing about flyin', except for "What goes UP must come DOWN."

Just do it gracefully. :)

[LadyX]

What a special story, lonestar.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Cold Heat]

Very cool toon!

A real toe tapper!

[Cold Heat]

toon=tune.......LOL!

[LadyX]

"Don't know a thing about flyin',"

Ha!!
How about when you are hanging in your traction setup??
Bet you look like you're flyin' - - -

[dutchess]

Hey...thanks for being part of our party...Great to see you here....!!!!!

[dutchess]

Don't know a thing about flyin', except for "What goes UP must come DOWN." Just do it gracefully. :)

This is my midlife crisis...out of the zone thing....LOL...AND I LOVE IT!!!!

[dutchess]

Happy St. Patricks Day to you..... thanks for stopping at the finest!!!!!