‘Tis a grand day, to be sure. Are you wearing green? Are you going to a parade, or have you already been? Have you had your green beer, green frosted cupcakes, soda bread, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage? Fine then. Let’s talk about this celebration a moment. Why is it important? (And let there…
Author: Cindy Thomson
Happy St. David’s Day!
St. David is the patron saint of Wales. Wales is a Celtic country that gets little recognition. I remember listening to a baseball broadcast where the announcers were talking about one of their colleagues, Chris Welsh. They said, “He’s Irish, isn’t he?” “No, I think he’s Scottish.” His name is Welsh, for heaven’s sake! Admittedly, I’ve given…
Finding Brigid in Kildare
Kildare is the site where Brigid built her church. The current one is likely on or near the original spot. The area was already sacred, however. It was the site of an ancient sacred oak. Druids often worshipped beneath an oak. She built her church very near a fire that the local women tended for…
St. Brigid and Groundhog’s Day
In my January newsletter I asked what U.S. observance had ties to St. Brigid’s Day. If you didn’t know, now you do, Groundhog’s Day. St. Brigid’s Day is Feb. 1, the traditional start of spring in Ireland. Brigid was a woman who obscured boundaries. It began with her birth. She was prophetzied to be born…
Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
Now a national holiday in Ireland, St. Brigid’s Day is celebrated not like most saints on the day she died, but on the day of her birth, traditionally the first day of spring in Ireland. It’s said that you can tell when spring will arrive by watching the hedgehog. If he’s out and about, spring…
Make a St. Brigid Cross
It’s the eve of St. Brigid’s Day and the day for making crosses. Traditionally the crosses were woven every year and a new one was placed over the door of the house or the barn for good luck and protection. In some areas the old ones were not taken down and you could find several…
My One Word in 2024
If you’ve followed me for a while, you no doubt know I choose a word each year (based on where I believe God is directing me) instead of making a New Year’s resolution. For me, it’s much more meaningful. I got a text from cousin Susan asking what my word was (I didn’t yet know)….
It’s Here!
It’s a book birthday! Finding Juniper is now available in print and digital formats wherever books are sold. Libraries can order it for you. Bookstores can order it. It’s on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Walmart and everywhere! This book is about a girl called Juniper, of course, but it’s also about her father…
Journeying into the New Year
As we approach the New Year, lots of people start thinking about goals and what they hope to accomplish in the next year. It’s good to experience a renewal, a time to make things right. For many years I’ve chosen a word for the year. I’ll post about that soon. I’m still a little unsure…
The Writing Life
This post originally appeared on my previous blog March 30, 2011. When I recently re-read it, I realized that my past self had something to say to my present self! I recently began watching a DVD titled A Celtic Pilgrimage with John O’Donohue. His message about the landscape and what it meant to him growing up is…
