St. Patrick's Day

       I had such a fun St. Patrick's Day! I bet you didn't know that I'm Irish!  I'll give you one guess what else I am. ;)  Here are some fun facts about St. Patrick's Day!

1)  We should really wear blue 
Saint Patrick himself would have to deal with pinching on his feast day.  His color was "Saint Patrick's blue," a light shade.  The color green only became associated with the big day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.

2) Saint Patrick was British
Although he made his mark introducing Christianity to Ireland in the year 432, Patrick wasn't Irish himself.  He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late 4th century.

3) There's a reason for the shamrocks 
How did the shamrock become associated with Saint Patrick? According to Irish legend, the saint used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

4) It could have been Saint Maewyn's Day
According to Irish legend, Saint Patrick wasn't originally named Patrick. His birth name was Maewyn Succat, but he changed his name to Patricius after becoming a priest.

5) There are no female leprechauns 
Don't be fooled by any holiday decorations showing lady leprechauns.  In traditional Irish folk tales, there are no female leprechauns, only nattily attired little guys.

       I was also able to be a part of the Cherokee Nation Monthly Meeting in Rogers County.  I really enjoyed visiting with everyone and it was so great learning more about my heritage.  I especially enjoyed listening to one of our veterans share the importance and significance of the American Pledge.  He described how some say it robotically as though the words are merely memorized and the true meaning is lost somehow in reciting.  Although most of us have recited this repeatedly in schools and certainly have learned this early in our lives, listening to someone who served our country give his description of it's meaning was emotional for me.  When he spoke the words they were profound and meaningful, so in honor of our veterans, I have included the pledge and it's meaning below.

• "I pledge allegiance"... you promise to be loyal 
• "to the flag"... to the symbol of your country
• "of the United States of America"... a nation of 50 states and several territories, each with certain rights of it's own
• "and to the Republic"... a country where the people elect representatives from among themselves to make laws for everyone 
• "for which it stands"... the flag represents the values of our form of government, in which everyone is equal under the law
• "one Nation under God"... a country formed under God whose people are free to believe as they wish
• "indivisible"... the nation cannot be split into parts
• "with liberty and justice"... with freedom and system of law
• "for all"... for every person in the nation, regardless of their differences 

       By reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, every American promises to be true to the United States of America.  The freedom available will not be take for granted and each American will remember the countless men, women, and children who have given their lives through the centuries, so that they can live peacefully today.


I also enjoyed seeing this sweet little one and hearing Farrell talk about her heritage.