THE SHAMROCKS ARE SHAKIN'

Barbara Ward-Finneran

The Irish are shaking everything they've got today and many are looking forward to kicking back some dark ale or green beer.  On this day when everyone is Irish, we celebrate one of the world's most popular saints, St. Patrick, who is the Patron Saint of Ireland.

Even the secular world embraces him like they do St. Valentine and St. Nicholas. Catholic, Christian or not - everyone loves these saints!

Saint Patrick was actually born in Scotland in the year 387. His parents were Romans living in Britian.  They were in charge of the colonies.  Around the age of 14, he was captured during raiding party and brought to Ireland, the, a land of Druids and pagans, as a slave. Patrick was forced to heard and tend sheep. During his imprisonment he learned the language and customs of the people and grew closer to God in prayer.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

It’s that time of year again! The holiday that I love to recall from my childhood! No, it’s

not Christmas or Halloween! It’s Saint Patrick’s Day!

Growing up in Brooklyn had many advantages. First, we had the best food anywhere!

There were Jewish delis, Italian, Chinese, and Greek restaurants, and food stores of every

nationality in between. My neighborhood was largely Irish and Italian and we reaped

the benefits of both rich cultures. Our school was closed on Saint Patrick’s Day so we

could all celebrate and watch the parade. The smell of corned beef filled the streets and

ally ways all day. You had to wear green or be pinched, and the Knights of Columbus,

where all our fathers were members, served green beer. The windows of our homes

had shamrocks, harps and leprechauns taped up and for breakfast – Irish Soda bread of

course! It was a wonderful time to be proud of your heritage, sing the old songs that my

father loved, and enjoy being Irish (even if you really weren’t).