Κυριακή 18 Μαρτίου 2012

Celebrating by the Irish way...

Today, Saturday March 17th, is National Day for the Irish nation.It's called...
"Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick") is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.[1] It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),[2] the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.[3]"


Well, everything was green!! People were wearing green clothes combined with green jewelry or having dyed hair or painted faces with the same color!! I was in Chicago down town to watch the parade on S.Columbus Dr. Everywhere I was looking at, there were shamrocks panels hanged, while I was listening to the traditional Irish music (e.g. riverdance) or looking at the river, which was green too!!! (They dye the river..!) In addition to, there were stands full of green stuff like hats, necklaces, shamrocks, just in case somebody wanted to buy, and stands outside of restaurants where "spinach" pizza was served (green food!) TIP: If someone, not Irish, wanted to participate in this anniversary, like me, he/she has to wear something green in order not to get pinched!!! It could be anything, from a hair-tie to a plastic bracelet or from a hat to a total "green" look..


WHY GREEN??? GREEN is a color, but can be used for many things/meanings like tranquality, serenity, peace, ecology etc. But for Irish people is their "history", "life-color", "benchmark". Therefore, I was wearing a bracelet that Valentina made for me... 


So, I couldn't believe how many people would gather for this celebration, though they concerned me about it few days ago.. THOUSANDS of people were out!! Why not??? Apart from the fact that a big proportion of Americans is from Ireland, it was a sunny day, and it would be pitty if they didn't enjoy it! And to be honest, it was hot, 26 degrees Celsius !!! (It's getting hot in here.. tourou tourou)

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