Saturday, March 13, 2010

saint patrick's day!

dear emily,

are the kids excited about saint patrick's day?  i used
to forget and get pinched to death at school, so this
is their 'green' warning.

i recently enjoyed stephen lawhead's patrick, son of
ireland, and now i know why all of ireland loves
him so!

did you realize the holiday has been celebrated for over
1,000 years?  apparently, the irish are allowed to suspend
their lenten restrictions for that one day to feast, dance,
and drink, not necessarily in that order.

saint patrick was born to wealthy parents but kidnapped
by irish raiders when only sixteen.  sadly, he spent the
next six years tending sheep in near solitude.

because of his terrible loneliness, he derived solace from
his faith and became a devout Christian.  it is believed
that he had at least two divine revelations: the first to
leave for britain and the second to then return to ireland
as a missionary.

it's interesting that upon his homecoming, he didn't try
to remove irish mysticism, but instead he assimilated
Christian life into their traditions.  he had bonfires at
easter and added the symbol of the sun to the cross,
making the celtic cross that we all know.

class dismissed!

love,
lea

". . . i have become all things to all men so that by all
possible means i might save some."  1 corinthians 9:22b

13 comments:

Rebecca Nelson said...

Dear Lea...

Thank you for your encouraging words about my cards. All a labor of love I can assure you. Their success will come because of sweet supporters like you.

I loved reading about St. Patricks. So much more than the lucky charms figure we so often envision in our minds, huh?

Bless you.

Love, Rebecca

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Lea:

I love Jessye Norman's voice, but I just clicked onto You Tube, as i had never heard her sing this wonderful old son. WOW!!!

And you are 'working' on it?? You must be a gifted singer!

As always, I so enjoy your 'letters' on this blog... what a gift they are!

Blessings!

Sonja

Joan Elizabeth said...

Thanks for the interesting history lesson ... I didn't know that stuff. Here in Australia St Patrick's day is said to be the day to plant Sweet Peas ... now that wouldn't work in your part of the world! You read the post too quickly, I am still going to post at Burnbrae for a while longer ... maybe you'll get to see my Sweet Peas flower ... if I remember to plant them that is.

carissa said...

thanks for reminding me of the real meaning of st. patrick's day! can't wait to teach my kids about this when they're older. so sorry that "someone" doesn't like your lowercase letters. : ) you know i certainly do!

Janna said...

I like the concept of your blog.

This info about St. Patrick is new to me. Whoever Emily is she is very fortunate to be receiving these letters.

Cheri Bunch said...

Love your blog! I will be back!
Blessings, Cheri

Char said...

Lea, you just taught me something I didn't know. What a wonderful way to learn something new. I thought I had become a follower, but it seems that was missed, so off I go to do just that. I will ponder this story for quite some time, sharing it and craving more, Char

Vee said...

No big celebration of St. Patrick's here, though my grandmother is a wee bit Irish or even a titch more Irish than that. I enjoyed this lesson and I'm certain that I'd enjoy reading the book if I ever come across it. We shall have some soda bread and perhaps it shall be green and perhaps we'll have some potato soup, though I'll resist the urge to make it green.

Jo said...

We always have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day parade here in Vancouver, complete with lots of bagpipe bands. However, this year we are in the midst of the Olympics and currently the Paralympics, so no parade this year. :-(

I just might pop in to a pub and have a green beer, though.

And thank you for the history lesson. I learned something today. :-)

Auntie Cake said...

We really get into St Patrick's Day here. Usually during the night naughty leprechauns pay a visit to our home. Those leprechauns have quite a party while we are sleeping. They make a mess in our home and turn our toilet water green! My kids have fun looking for gold coins and shamrocks that the leprechauns leave for them. My youngest son is planning on sleeping on our couch to try and catch some little guys this year!
Kate

Denise Kiggan said...

Thanks for the lesson! Interesting life story!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

♣♣♣Happy St. Patrick's Day♣♣♣

Very wise of St. Patrick, not to try to wipe out all "the old ways." Common sense and all that...


♣♣♣Happy St. Patrick's Day♣♣♣

Kerry O'Gorman said...

Thanks for the wee history lesson! I WISH that was me on the fiddle in my pictures but alas! I am only a wanna be musician...I try though! cheers...