Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and OK, there is nothing Irish in me... at least that I know off :-)

But I like holidays, festivals and this is a nice one, because you can do so much with the color green. When I think about St. P day, I think about green drinks, a traditional Irish dish named Colcannon, Leprechauns, gold coins etc... etc.. You will see below that people are quite creative and introducing the green theme into their cuisine!

I am not giving you the background story of St. Patrick's Day anymore, I did that in 2009 in my post HERE. You can read it if you like by clicking on the link.

This year I am just showing you food for St. P day. When I researched my favorite food channel: FOOD GAWKER and typed in St. Patrick's Day I got a few good ones I like to share with you... still time to make some of them!! Just click on the name of the recipe and it will re-direct you to the right link & recipe.

Green Beer!



Traditional Irish Food: Colcannon



Leprechaun Cookies for St. Patrick's Day!



Caramel And Chocolate Covered Marshmallows for St. Patrick’s Day



Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Irish Cream Buttercream…..Slainte!!



St. Patrick's Day Bars



Shamrock Bento



Spring Pea Soup



St. Patrick’s Day Sushi Bento



Last year we were traveling with St. Patrick's Day, but the first year (2009) we were here we celebrated it by going to the square outside at MonteCasino where they had all kinds of activities for children and adults. We might go there this year as well, then pictures will follow. And this picture was taken with a Leprechaun and the twins. Juliet in green little cute pigtails and Jasmine with a funky green headband, the girls look so cute. Only 6 years old, although the month after 7.



I wish you all a very happy St. Patrick's day, are you going to celebrate??
Tell me about it!
Mireille

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

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 over a thousand 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.


Wearing of 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.
Even in South Africa we had a St. Patrick's festival during the weekend and all 4 of us were wearing green ;-) Here the girls with a live green leprechaun.


The Chicago River
Chicago is also famous for a somewhat peculiar annual event: dyeing the Chicago River green. The tradition started in 1962, when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river—enough to keep it green for a week!
Today, in order to minimize environmental damage, only forty pounds of dye are used, making the river green for only several hours. Although Chicago historians claim their city 's idea for a river of green was original, some Savannah natives believe the idea originated in their town.

Symbols and Traditions


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.


Corned Beef
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.


The Leprechaun
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.


I wish you all a wonderful green day!!
Mireille