Imbolc, the ancient Celtic festival of light, marks the halfway point between the Celtic festivals of the dark and light halves of the year (Samhain and Beltane.) Spring is coming! In Ireland and the UK the appearance of the snowdrops is a sign. Because Imbolc is a pre-Christian, ancient Celtic observance, the festival has been…
Author: Cindy Thomson
Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
February 1, St. Brigid’s Day, Imbolc in the Celtic calendar, and Ground Hog’s Day (Feb. 2) in the U.S., are associated with the arrival of spring. It certainly feels like spring where I am, although that might not last. Traditionally, school children in Ireland weave a new St. Brigid’s Day cross on this day. The…
ST. Brigid: Patroness of Ireland
Why St. Brigid? Why did I choose to write about St. Brigid and why do people continue to be interested? All I can say is her legacy spoke to me and once I began to tell her story, she never left me alone. I’m not sure where the time went, but it’s been 17 years…
Food in Ireland
The Irish have such interesting names for things, don’t you think? Like mashed potatoes and sausages, for instance. If you don’t speak the lingo, at least now you know what bangors and mash is. Also, Freckle Bread is simple raisin bread; Black Pudding is made with pig’s blood but some people say it tastes amazing….
Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary for the Protection of Irish Immigrant Girls
This mission to Irish immigrant girls was the inspiration for the Ellis Island Series. I marveled over pictures of this building on the Internet and when I was able to see it in person. It was just as amazing to see that this old building was still standing among the modern skyscrapers of the Wall…
6 More Reasons to be a Proud Irish-Scottish-American
To add to my previous post… Reasons to be proud of being Irish American or Scots-Irish: 7. You have a heritage of dance. Myself, I just appreciate dancers, but think of Gene Kelly, Michael Flatley, and more. This complements the heritage of music, of course. via GIPHY 8. You have a heritage of actors. Again, I’m…
6 Reasons to be a Proud Irish- or Scots-Irish American
1. U.S. Presidents share your heritage. I’ve lost count. But Wikipedia has the number over twenty. 2. You come from a long line of survivors. Think about it: political oppression, the Great Famine, immigration, persecution… Truly Irish Americans are among the most resilient people on earth. 3. Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett were of…
Auld Lang Syne
“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem set to music. Robert Burns was the first to put to pen the lyrics and Guy Lombardo made it into the popular New Year’s anthem. Tracing the origin of the song is really impossible. Like so many other stories and legends, what we have now is a combination…
Hogmanay
“It is ordinary among some Plebians in the South of Scotland, to go about from door to door upon New Year`s Eve, crying Hagmane.” Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1693. Hogmanay is the name of the Scottish New Year’s celebration and it’s huge. Here’s the official site for what’s happening in Edinburgh. If you want to be…
5 DYK From my Ellis Island Research
Did you know… 1. Immigrant aide societies used to send an agent to the docks or onto Ellis Island to fetch young Irish girls who came to America totally unprepared. They probably saved many young girls from falling into a life of prostitution. Other ethnic groups had aide societies as well. In Sofia’s Tune Sofia takes…
