Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

The Origins of St. Patrick’s Day

Most of us can remember always being told to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, but how did this holiday come about? In the fifth century, kidnappers took a man from Britain and brought him to work in Ireland at age sixteen (“History of St. Patrick’s Day”). Many believe he brought Christianity to the Irish and later became their patron saint. He allegedly died on March 17; hence, the Irish dedicated this day to him.

Fun Traditions

Ireland, known for their three-leaf clovers, claims St. Patrick used one to explain the Trinity (“History of St. Patrick’s Day”). To find a four-leaf clover, then, must mean one possesses luck. The idea stuck and became a notable part of the beloved holiday.

In the beginning, people associated blue with St. Patrick. During the 18^th century, shamrocks came to represent Ireland and its saint, thus changing the holiday’s color to green (Davidson). Cities created unique traditions to celebrate the vibrant color. One such city is Chicago, which celebrates the holiday by dying its river green.

What would St. Patrick’s Day be without its famous character, the leprechaun? These short creatures find their origins in Irish folklore (Davidson). Legend says leprechauns cannot see people who wear green; therefore, they cannot pinch them. For this reason, if people see their friends without anything green on, they will pinch them.

Conclusion

A holiday started for the sake of spreading Christianity became a secular favorite for cities with a high population of Irish immigrants (Augustyn). New traditions formed to celebrate the holiday and spread to different regions. Now, people the world over enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in a variety of ways.

Written by Joy

Image Credit

Works Cited

Augustyn, Adam. The Editors of Encyclopedia. “Saint Patrick’s Day”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Jan. 2021. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day

Davidson, Rose. “St. Patrick’s Day.” National Geographic Kids, 30 Dec. 2020. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/celebrations/st-patricks-day/

“History of St. Patrick’s Day.” History.com, 27 Oct. 2009. https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

Veterans Day Deals

Veterans Day is November 11th, and it is just around the corner! While it is a pretty well-known American holiday, many people are unaware of the retail and restaurant opportunities for discounts. Through the help of Military.com, I have compiled a list of deals (and some freebies) that you can use to celebrate a veteran. Most of these deals are for November 11th and for veterans and active-duty military members. If the dates extend beyond November 11th, or if other people are included, it is stated in the section.  Veterans, today is your day, so please treat yourselves!

Restaurants

Applebee’s:  Get a free meal from a special menu.

54th Street Grill:  Get a free entrée up to $12 value.

California Pizza Kitchen: Get a free meal from a special menu.

On the Border: Get a free meal from a select menu at participating locations.

Zoёs Kitchen: Receive a free entrée with the purchase of another entrée.

Stores

Bed Bath & Beyond: Get 25% off an entire purchase November 9-11. Spouses are included!

Great Clips : Get a free haircut or free haircut card to use on a later date at Great Clips. Customers who are non-military can purchase a service and receive a free haircut card to give to a veteran. Haircuts are redeemable until Dec. 31.

Kohl’s: Get 30% off an in-store purchase November 7-11. Immediate family of veterans and military personnel are included!

Staples: Active-duty military personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans, and their immediate families can get a 25% discount November 10-16.

Stargazer Cast Iron: Get a 30% military discount from November 8-11.

Entertainment

AMC Theatres: Active-duty military and veterans who purchase a ticket using their AMC Stubs membership can enjoy a free large popcorn November 8-11.

Main Event: Get 30 minutes of game play and a free entrée from a special menu.

Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA): Receive free rides on November 11th!

La Quinta by Wyndham: Any active or retired military personnel, veterans, and their families who book and stay at La Quinta hotels in the U.S. and Canada can receive a 15% military discount October 22-December 5.

Planet Fitness — Veterans and active-duty military can work out for free from November 8-15. They are also invited to enjoy full access of club services, to bring a workout buddy at no additional charge, and to relax after the work out with free HydroMassage and chair massages.

Ultimately, Veterans Day is about honoring those who have fought or are currently fighting for our country. Though I’m sure a veteran would enjoy any of these deals, I encourage you to show appreciation for our soldiers and their service in other ways such as writing them a card or buying them a gift. If you know a veteran, make sure to thank them for all they do!

Written by Deneen

Image Credit

Sources:

https://www.military.com/veterans-day/restaurants-veterans-day-military-discounts.html

Shalom

Optimistic lyrics, “Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changing the minds of pretenders while chasing the clouds away,” from Earth, Wind, and Fire’s song September quickly come to mind when thinking of Peace Day. Coincidentally, Peace Day is celebrated annually on September 21st, and its message echoes the band’s emphasis on love conquering the damaging behaviors and thoughts we constantly have. Writers for the International Day of Peace’s official website state that the holiday was “established in 1981 by [a] unanimous United Nations resolution [and] provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to [p]eace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.” However, history has proven that peace is hardly celebrated, perhaps because it is rarely truly attained. Michelle Ruoff, a writer for Live 365 reports that the most popular holidays worldwide celebrate food, independence, light, love, saints, death, and resurrection. None of them commemorate peace. 

For many Americans, the entire month of September causes a whirlwind of emotions. Many developing students across the nation have returned to school to begin the next grade level. On the 7th, most take a day off or attend a barbeque to acknowledge all of their hard work on Labor Day. World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th is used to honor those who have been affected by suicide or suicide attempts through suicidal behavior education, global cycling events, and most commonly, lighting a candle near a windowsill to show support or honor a loved one. Ten days before Peace Day, during Patriot Day, still sensitive Americans acknowledge the terrorist attack on U.S soil, 9/11/2001, that bruised the heart of the nation almost twenty years ago. The history, holidays, and traditions held in this month alone seem to encourage chaos. 

In May 2020, as I wrote this blog, the whole world was engulfed in chaos and lacked peace because of COVID19. At this time, many individuals were overwhelmed by fear-mongering, selfishness, job-insecurity, risk of infection from a deadly disease, death itself, and many other peace-stealing circumstances. Bombarded by 24-hour news cycles, isolation from people one normally sees every day, or fear that one may be assaulted or killed for asking others to abide by safety regulations can drive away peace in anyone. 

However, seeking peace is the remedy for this extremely stressful time. In order to acquire peace, one must first understand it. Many dictionaries and thesauri emphasize tranquility, calmness, or the absence of war. After further study, the word tranquility describes one thing being free from interruption or disturbance of another. Endless notification pings, breaking news, and even new thoughts prevent us from living a distraction-free life. Calm most often refers to stillness, especially in harsh weather. Alfred Nobel’s final will and testament declared that the Nobel Peace Prize was to be awarded “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses”( “History”). Many brilliant leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and John F. Kennedy have lost their lives seeking it. Perhaps most people never possess peace because they have unrealistic ideas of what it is. 

According to the Living Word, peace, or shalom, is an invaluable gift from God, not a prize for the conquering. In fact, in John 14:27, Jesus admits that true peace cannot be obtained through man but through Christ alone, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”(ESV). Another important theme in this verse is that Jesus consoles God’s children and tells them not to fear.

Peace is not the absence of agitation or the void of violence, it is a precious present from the Lord during the worst times.

In one’s own experience, peace comes in the midnight hour, when the heart and brain sleep. Sometimes peace is the Son that shines after one’s eyes cloud and make storms of tears. Finally, peace, when coupled with faith, provides strength to overcome all obstacles. 

Written by Ashley

Image Credit

Sources

Anonymous.(n.d.) History. Nobel Peace Prize.org. Retrieved from  https://www.nobel 

peaceprize.org/History. 

Anonymous.(n.d.) What is the International Day of Peace? International Day of Peace.org. Retrieved from https://internationaldayofpeace.org/

Ruoff, Michelle.(28 Feb.2020). Top 15 Most Celebrated Holidays in the World. Live 365. 

Retrieved from https://live365.com/blog/top-15-most-celebrated-holidays-around-the-world/

Happy Grandparents Day!

What is Grandparents Day?

Just as we have days to honor mothers and fathers, Grandparents Day is dedicated to the wonderful people who brought those mothers and fathers into the world: grandparents! Grandparents Day is a national holiday, and it is celebrated in various countries around the world. Some countries even have separate days for grandmothers and grandfathers. In America, this holiday always falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day, and for 2020, Grandparents Day falls on Sunday, September 13.

The Origin

Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation to officially recognize Grandparents Day as a national holiday in 1979. He urged all Americans to take time to honor their own grandparents or elders within their community on this day. A woman by the name of Marion McQuade was recognized as the founder of this day as she worked tirelessly to unite all fifty states in recognizing this day as a holiday. McQuade donated much time in her community to teach the youth about the various important contributions that seniors have made throughout history, and she encouraged the youth to adopt a grandparent for a lifetime. Clearly, McQuade felt that the knowledge and guidance that elders had to offer was vitally important to the younger generation, and she took the steps needed to show them the recognition they deserve.

Celebration

The best way to show someone that he or she is important to you is to spend time with that person. Giving gifts and cooking food is also a good way of saying, “Thank you!” Even though COVID-19 is keeping everyone indoors, e-cards and phone calls are excellent ways to stay in touch with those you love. Perhaps even leaving a letter in the mailboxes of the elders in your community could be a magnificent way to spread love and celebrate the wisdom and life that they possess. Take time to love those around you and support those who you look up to. Maybe even remind a boss, teacher, professor, etc. of their importance to you.  Adopt a grandparent if you don’t have one, and adopt a grandparent if you do. There’s so much to learn from those that have already lived so much life, so let’s thank them on this incredible day. Thank you all for all of your contributions to our society and lives! You are important, you are amazing, you are loved and appreciated!

Written by Jonathan

Image Credit

A Labor Day Blog

Don’t Wear White After Labor Day! Why?

Have you ever heard the saying, “don’t wear white after Labor Day?” Have you ever wondered what it meant? This fashion rule was established back in the 1980s. Not wearing white after this holiday was meant to signify that summer fashion was then out of style by September. However, wearing white after Labor Day is now more sociably acceptable. Fashion and culture have changed since the 1980s as well as the way we celebrate Labor Day. In fact, even the meaning of the holiday is different for some people.

What Is Labor Day Anyway?

Labor Day was started by a man named Peter J. McGuire, who was working as a carpenter and a labor union leader. McGuire thought American workers should have a day where they were honored for all of their hard work. McGuire took his plans about Labor Day to the New York Central Labor Union in 1892, and Labor Day became a national holiday in September 1894 to celebrate American workers.

How Do I Celebrate?

In most American households that I know, Labor Day is celebrated the way many other American holidays are celebrated: with food! A barbeque is the perfect way to gather friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate each other’s hard work. A few other good ways to celebrate Labor Day are attending a Labor Day Parade, hosting a theme party, or having a self-care day.

How Do I Celebrate in Quarantine?

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, our Labor Day plans may not allow us to be near our loved ones this year; however, I have other plans you can try. In order to keep this tradition alive, I think you should still decorate your home, and if you have a backyard, you could even set up some cool games for you and your family to play while social distancing and wearing a mask! Cooking is a major part of this occasion, so I would suggest getting some steak filets, or if you are looking to eat on a smaller budget, hot dogs are a win! If you are celebrating this holiday alone, I have an idea for you too. If you aren’t cooking, ordering in some wings and watching a movie are great ways to celebrate!

Written by Princess

Image Credit

 

St. Patrick’s Day: A Guide

Tuesday is March 17th; you know what that means, right? Or, like me, you may not. Unless you are Irish or claim the Irish culture, perhaps St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays on the calendar that comes and goes without a second glance. However, this year let’s be challenged to not only take a glance, but to celebrate.

Where Did This Holiday Come From?

It is fairly crucial to have some basic understanding of the holiday before diving into the festivities. I must confess that I am not personally a historian, but through some intensive google searching, I found more than I thought I wanted to know about this particular holiday. Lucky for you, pun intended, I am willing to share my newfound knowledge. The holiday falls on the day that “St. Patrick” is thought to have died. Originally, it was intended to celebrate his contributions in helping to Christianize Ireland. Surprisingly, St. Patrick was neither a saint nor a Patrick. The Catholic Church never officially embraced him as a saint, but he did take on the name Patricius, though he was born Maewyn Succat. As the Irish immigrated to America during the 18^th century, the holiday was celebrated to commemorate Irish culture among the Irish community. Then as time went on, the holiday grew bigger and bigger.

Bust Out Your Green Because?

Surely you are aware of the tradition that those who choose not to wear green on March 17^th are subjected to exposing themselves to receive a pinch. Perhaps this has never affected your life. In that case, you are missing out, because a free day to pinch a sibling or friend can be quite fun. But still the question lingers: why green at all? Apparently during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the British chose to wear only red and the Irish chose green. The Irish civilians also wore green in support of the rebellion. After the rebellion, the Irish claimed green as a symbol of pride. Ireland, due to its bountiful green landscape is also known as the “Emerald Isle,” which certainly adds to the cementation of Ireland’s claim on green. So of course on the day celebrating all things Irish, the countries claimed color is paraded to the extreme.

The Power Behind the Pinch

The most logical answer I found was that the pinch represents and encourages a boldness in Irish culture. However, what fun is logic? Instead there is also a mythological reasoning behind the mischievous tradition. A one-word summary: leprechauns. As legend goes, the little devils are notorious for pinching those who refuse to wear green. Wearing green provides one an invisibility cloak from their eyes. Now, everyone is welcome to take on the role of the leprechaun in order to carry out their job.

Now that you are caught up on all things St. Patrick’s Day, feel free to share your new-found knowledge with all your friends. Or, keep it to yourself and embrace the mischievous nature of a leprechaun.

Written by Jordan

Image Credit

A Frosty Thanksgiving

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes & gravy have nary a lump,

May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,

May your Thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs.

~ A Thanksgiving Poem by C.J Beaman

Everyone’s pretty familiar with the button-bursting power of Thanksgiving food, but what about the cool traditions? Can you think of any in your family? While you ponder, I’ll share a few of mine.

For starters, my family is a bit dispersed, letting life sweep us up and scatter us about as the years pass. On Thanksgiving, however, we are always sure to fly in, drive in, or dogsled in to spend time with one another. Then the next concern is that year’s Thanksgiving dinner host. As with most families, it’s hard to decide where to enjoy this special meal: who has the largest TV, most seating, and who’s cooking? This brings me to our first two Thanksgiving traditions, 1) that we disregard the first two concerns and 2) simply pack into my great grandmother’s house, sporting rumbling tummies for the meal she elected to cook.

Speaking of, our third tradition is being non-traditional with our Thanksgiving meal. Not in the “adding a little nutmeg to the pumpkin pie recipe” kind of way but a complete switch-a-roo. One year, the family table was decorated with necessities for a Mexican-food themed Thanksgiving. Dishes of chips, salsa, sour cream, and fresh veggies surround a couple of flour and corn tortillas filled with beef and cheese. The year before, a tart fragrance would linger in the air from my aunt’s mouth-watering lemon peppered fish served on a bed of white rice. Last year, to be even more rebellious, we didn’t even bother preparing a meal. Instead we pitched in for Kentucky Fried Chicken, which worked out imPECKably.

After gobbling down our chicken-fixin’s or whatever else we’ve determined to eat that year, my family and I, in all our largeness, usually gather around to watch the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game. With great pride and admiration for “America’s Favorite Team,” we sport our jerseys (both real and not) and shout at our favorite players through the TV, with comments varying between congratulatory and critical – based on each play.

Our final Thanksgiving Day tradition is to put up our Christmas tree. That’s right folks, with bellies full from our Thanksgiving meals, we pull out my mom’s pack of 500 silver and gold Christmas ornaments. By nightfall, our Frosty the Snowman figurine is back in its proud position on the coffee table with fresh batteries in his back and a pep in his step (as he is motion activated to dance). Waving another successful Thanksgiving goodbye, my family and I eagerly welcome that big day in December, with tinsel, lights, and hundreds of ornaments – we make it rain Christmas on Thanksgiving.

Written by Ashley

Image credit

DIY Gifts to Wow Her on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day, a time in early May, has been dedicated to celebrating the mommies, mothers, mamas, and moms across the nation for many years. Anna Jarvis, Mother’s Day founder, dedicated her life to honoring the great women who’ve endured much hardship for their children while continuing to be poised and graceful (History.com staff para.1). For the women whose love for their family is so unique, moms deserve a day dedicated to celebrating them in a spectacular way. Here are a few ideas for D.I.Y. gifts to wow any mom on Mother’s Day.

First on the list of gnarly gizmos and gadgets is a D.I.Y charm bracelet. This simple yet elegant gift is gentle on the pockets, easy to make, and still very personal to that special lady. To make this charm bracelet, you will need a chain, jump rings, a lobster claw clasp, and a few meaningful charms. You can add as many or as few as you’d like and still achieve a one-of-a-kind look that will make Mommy smile. This gift will also allow you two to grow and improve the gift over time, as the charms can be updated and multiplied with time. As she sports this sweet act of love around her wrist, she will always be reminded of your appreciation for her as will everyone else.

Source

Help Mama soak away the stress of being a mom, amongst other things, with a D.I.Y Spa in a Jar and D.I.Y Scrubs. To create a scrub your mom will love, take a small container, some white or brown sugar and pair it honey, olive oil or coconut oil, and a few drops of an essential oil she likes. After using this delicious-smelling concoction, she will have skin to die for! To fashion a Spa in a Jar, simply grab a large mason jar and fill it with those D.I.Y scrubs, lip balm, a face mask, and any other helpful trinkets for relaxation. Next, decorate the jar with some of her favorite colors and a nice ribbon. She will definitely appreciate the lovely gesture from you and the reminder for her to treat herself.

Finally, go the classic route with a spectacular Mother’s Day themed meal. Rock your mother’s taste buds with some fabulous flap-jacks, sausage, and an omelet the size of your head. For the moms more inclined to heartier meals, home-made-bacon-and-cheese-burger sliders would be a great choice. If you’re more of a Pizza Roll microwaver, simply make some fresh lemonade and chocolate covered fruit for a mouth-watering reaction.  My mom will be receiving a Spa in a Jar as well as a tasty Mother’s Day meal. Whatever you decide to make, or try to make, your mom will love and welcome it.

Show her a little gratitude with these cute and easy D.I.Ys. Remember, there is no judgement if you go crazy with hearts in these D.I.Ys as long as you have fun in creating them and use them as tools to show just how much you love and cherish your mom, mommy, mama, and mother.

History.com Staff. ” Mother’s Day.” History.com, 2011.

Written by Ashley

Header image credit

Easter Every Day

Easter, considered to be the most significant Christian holiday, has come again. Filled with bunny rabbits, oval-shaped chocolates, and wild Easter egg hunts, the occasion holds more than just the short-term blessings of joy and happiness; Easter gives us a chance to celebrate and receive once more, with grateful hearts, the eternal blessings of hope, peace, faith, and love. Two thousand years ago, a Jewish man, the son of a carpenter, hung fragile and exposed on a cross. It may have seemed somewhat insignificant to the onlookers, and even today many groups, communities, and nations believe it to be so. But to the Christian, Easter commemorates the life-changing gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of the world’s Savior, Jesus Christ.

Although this celebration occurs only once a year, Christians all over the world honor Christ’s sacrifice daily. The cross is the core of the Christian faith and Christian living. It not only grants all of us a way into eternal life, but restores our relationship with our Creator. Christians, those who have accepted God’s wonderful gift, now share life with Him every day, abiding in His delightful and sweet presence, alongside Him who is a constant helper, companion, protector, and friend. With the promise of His continual presence and a glorious inheritance, we can know that God has abundantly blessed us both here on earth and in life after death.

For Christians, these truths about God’s promise of blessing hold the energy to transform our lives day by day. Firstly, knowing that God waits for us in Heaven, gives us tremendous hope: hope enough to stand when life knocks us down; hope enough for us to see the light when we feel that the darkness is closing in; hope enough for us to keep walking even when storms are headed our way. Because the cross proclaims that this life is substantially brief and momentary in comparison to the eternal glory to come, we can have joy in all circumstances. Secondly, because God has gifted us with His unceasing presence, we can constantly speak to Him, present our requests to Him, and intercede for others on their behalf. He has promised to hear us. God sees everything and generously supplies all of our needs. He has promised to carry us through every single day.

Therefore, Easter, unlike many other holidays, far transcends its bounds of one week in the springtime year after year. Instead, it permeates each and every second of a believer’s life. Outside of charming Easter decorations, blissful fellowship with family and friends, and overflowing Church services, the true joy to be found in Easter is grasped in the stillness of the mundane, in the repetition of work and routine, and in the times of defeat, struggle, and pain. The cross is worn on millions of pendants, displayed in thousands of windows, and stuck on the bumper of countless vehicles but its reach is far beyond a worldwide festival. It holds the weight, power, and glory to give hope in every situation, to shine light into every circumstance, and to remind us of everlasting love every day.

Written by Jeka

Image credit

Going Home for School Breaks

School breaks are the appetizer to the summer entrée. They are scattered throughout the school year and are a small window in which to spend some time with family. Although college may seem like the best time in life, and you may not want to go home, being with family is a sweet period of time not to be neglected. Here are some reasons why I love going home:

We eat all our meals together. We sit around the table, not having seen each other for months, and simply talk and joke and tell stories about how the roommates almost burnt the apartment to the ground trying to make pancakes. When mom asks who wants to go to the grocery store with her, I am the first one to volunteer. (Maybe I will even get a special treat from the candy section.) If I am going to the mall, my brother now asks if he can come with me. What?! It is strange how time and distance can make people with the weakest bonds grow closer when they are together again.

And you cannot forget the dreaded awkward family portrait that must be taken every time everyone is home. We pick on each other but still say “I love you” when we leave because sometimes, family is all that matters. Since we must go two or three months without hugs or kisses on the forehead from loving parents during breaks, we cherish the time we have together until the call of school beckons us to return. I love waking up to a home full of memories. These past experiences are both enjoyable and deplorable. However, taking the time to come home and be with my family has improved my relationships with them more than I ever hoped for. I choose to make them a priority in my life when it comes to breaks from college and so should you. Together, memories are made that can never be replaced or replicated.

If you seem to find yourself not wanting to go home because of family problems or other issues, I encourage you to not forget that family is important, if not the most important thing in life. It is a good thing to reconcile relationships before the opportunity has passed. Always make time for the (second)[1] most valuable relationship in your life: family.

Written by Maddie

 

[1] The first most valuable relationship is with Jesus Christ.

Photo credits: bluemarblegod.com and brassmonkeyshow.com