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St. Patrick’s Day is made special by various traditions. Everything from dyeing major cities’ rivers green to parades to enjoying green foods has become part of the pageantry of St. Patrick’s Day.
e next time you raise a green beer to your lips, you may wonder which traditions are authentically Irish and which ones were created by regions with an abundance of Irish emigrants. Surprisingly, many seemingly Irish traditions likely began elsewhere.
First parade ◆ It would be accurate to assume that various elements associated with St. Patrick’s Day began where St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, once resided, including the rst St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, some of the rst parades held in St. Patrick’s honor took place in two North American cities, New York and Boston, that had high numbers of Irish immigrants. But historians say the rst ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in St. Augustine, Florida in 1601, a year a er gun re blasts were used to honor the saint. e parade may have been at the request of an Irish priest living there at the time.
Corned beef and cabbage ◆ What would St. Patrick’s Day be without an authentic meal of corned beef and cabbage? is dish is not so authentic a er all, and actually is an American innovation. Ham and cabbage was widely eaten in Ireland, but corned beef was a cheaper alternative found in America by immigrants. erefore, corned beef became a staple of poor Irish
immigrants living in lower Manhattan. e salted meat was boiled three times to remove some of the brine and make it palatable.
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Green beer ◆ Green beer is not an Irish custom, but an American one. e most common beer consumed in Ireland is Guinness, which is dark brown to black in color, making green dye useless in Irish pubs since it would be largely invisible in the stout. Golf tournaments ◆ One would not associate golf with St. Patrick’s Day unless they reside in Nome, Alaska. Golf is a popular Irish pastime, and each year the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament takes place right around St. Patrick’s Day. Bright green golf balls are used, and breaks are factored in between holes to warm up at local bars.
Wearing green ◆ According to e Christian Science Monitor, individuals in the United States started wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the early 1700s. ey believed it “made one invisible to leprechauns.” e o cial color for the holiday used to be a sky blue known as “St. Patrick’s Day Blue,” established during the reign of King George III.
In addition to these traditions, specialty items, such as co ees and shakes, also are very popular. However, most of these do not have origins on the Emerald Isle, either. Yet, no matter where traditions began, there’s no denying St. Patrick’s Day has long inspired celebration. •
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PRISTINE, SNOW-COVERED LANDSCAPES can be wonders to behold. While that blanket of white is idyllic, a lawn’s delicate blades may be paying a hefty price beneath the cold, heavy piles of snow. Snow plows push salt and sand up on the grass while subterranean animals like mice and moles dig burrows beneath piles of snow as they try to nd food and stay warm. Such conditions are not favorable for thriving landscapes. When the spring thaw arrives, lawns may be in dire need of some TLC. e following techniques can mitigate winter-related lawn damage.
• Clear out debris. Remove any scattered leaves, branches and other debris that has been strewn across the property due to storms or snow-laden trees. is will give you a clean canvas to work on.
• Dry out snow mold. e Family Handyman says snow mold is a cold-season fungus that causes gray-colored circles or patches on the lawn where there has been snow. To alleviate snow mold, rake the lawn to loosen matted grass and facilitate the drying-out process.
• De-thatch the lawn. Heavy snow can compress the grass and cause some of it to die o . Dethatching helps remove dead grass blades and separate any matting. is enables water, nutrients and air to reach the lawn’s roots more e ectively. inning out old organic matter also helps encourage new growth.
• Aerate the soil. Coupled with dethatching, aeration involves loosening the soil or poking holes to allow nutrients to move freely to the roots.
• Kill weeds before they spread. Weeds may be the rst to start growing when the weather begins to warm. Address them promptly by manually pulling them or applying an herbicide.
• Overseed the lawn. Chances are there are some bare spots that have formed over the winter. Overseeding can help to ll in the lawn. Make sure that frosts are largely a thing of the past and soil temperature is around 50 F to 60 F before seeding. Water daily until grass lls in.
• Apply nutrients. Fertilizer and compost can restore nutrients to the lawn that may have been used up over winter. A soil test at a nearby horticultural center can tell you which nutrients are needed, according to the Chemistry Cachet, a guide to using chemistry secrets for healthy living, beauty, cleaning, and gardening.
Lawns can be restored to their pre-winter glory a er some sweat equity and about ve to six weeks of consistent sunshine and warm weather. •
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BAGPIPE
BLARNEY
BROGUE
CELEBRATE
CELTIC
CHRISTIANITY
COINS
EMERALD
GAELIC
GOLD
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TRADITION
Beautifully colored Easter eggs are a beloved holiday tradition. In many cultures, eggs represent new life, fertility and rebirth. For Christians, the Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection, or the eternal life, of Jesus Christ. e practice of coloring eggs and o ering them as decorative items is embraced during both secular and religious Easter celebrations.
Many fond memories and traditions are tied to Easter egg coloring, and some people may have their preferential kits or practices to achieve beautiful eggs. But embracing some new tips and tricks can produce beautiful eggs and make this beloved tradition even more fun.
• Begin with rm, hard-boiled eggs. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. en use a large spoon to gently lower the eggs into the water. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and boil for just about 12 minutes. Transfer the eggs to a bowl with ice cold water and let them cool. Allow the eggs to cool completely before coloring.
• Lay out newspaper or an old tablecloth to soak up any spills. Spills are inevitable, so don’t let them spoil the fun.
In addition, empty egg cartons make ideal drying racks, so do not discard them.
• Make patterns or other designs on the eggs. Use a white crayon to draw on the egg directly. e dye will not stick to the wax. Or use string, rubber bands, tape, stickers, or other items to create your pattern. Dip the egg and then remove the materials a erward to reveal the design.
• Swirl a few drops of food coloring into shaving cream on a at surface. Roll the eggs into the mixture, let dry, and then gently clean to remove the excess shaving cream. e result is a marbled e ect.
• Recognize that you don’t have to “dye” eggs at all. Use a sponge to dab on a design. Strips of tissue paper can be adhered to the egg with glue or shellac. Children may enjoy submerging the egg in glue and then coating it in glitter. e potential to create creative Easter eggs is limitless.
Embracing new strategies can set this year’s eggs apart. ✴
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