The Charm of the Morn to you -Postcard Friendship Friday #301

The Irish are a tough independent people.  I am honored that on my Father's side, we can trace our family line directly from Ireland.  With a twinkle in his eye, Dad always said he was part Leprechaun.  As a little girl, of course, I believed every word.  Daddy  was a bit "fey."  

It is no surprise green is one of my favorite colors and that Ireland is an enchanted place I intend to visit one day.  

Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends--thank you for dropping by and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

NOTE: I am SO sorry, Friends--I had the Linky link all ready to go, too.  It is up now!  I apologize for missing on that.  Thank you for your patience.  I was getting ready to speak for a lady's retreat and I guess I just totally spaced adding the link.  

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!     

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  A REMINDER:  Links which do not have to do with Postcard Friendship  Friday will be removed.  Links which advertise various products will share that same fate.  Any and all suspicious links will be reported to Blogspot then deleted.

Golden Harp of Ireland -Guest Heart Thursday

It does my Irish heart good to see all the wonderful cards one can find celebrating St. Patrick's Day.  I especially love this golden heart-shaped harp.  To someday play the harp, is on my "Bucket List!" 

There is quite a history behind the harp and the Coat of Arms of Ireland which  is usually seen as a golden harp with silver strings, on a blue background.  References to this emblem as being the arms of the King of Ireland can be found as early as the 1300's. 

They were adopted by King Henry the 8th of England when he ended the period of Lordship of Ireland and declared Ireland to be a kingdom in 1541.  When the crowns of England, Scotland and Ireland were united as one in 1603, the harp was integrated into the unified royal coat of arms. 

This became was adopted as the emblem of the Irish Free State when it separated from the United Kingdom in 1922.  They were registered as the arms of Ireland with the Chief Herald of Ireland in November, 1945.  

Have a merry-hearted day and Happy Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Legend of St. Patrick and the Pig -Postcard Friendship Friday #158

I have always wondered why pigs are so often included in St. Patrick's Day cards, along with shamrocks Leprechauns and pipes.  I finally discovered the legend!  Here's the story:

St. Patrick was born along the west coast of Roman Britain where his parents raised the boy as a Christian. Sadly, when Patrick was a teenager, a group of Irish raiders attacked his family's estate while his parents were out of town.  So 16-year old Patrick, along with many of his family's servants, was taken hostage and forced to live in Ireland as a slave. 

The land of Ireland was wild, harsh and rugged.  Life there was extremely difficult.  St. Patrick was sold and  legend has it that his master was a kind man.  St. Patrick served him faithfully for six years.

However, when he was in his early 20's, St. Patrick experienced a profound spiritual transformation. After a prolonged fast he fell into a deep sleep.  In a dream, he heard a voice saying, “Thou doest well to fast; thou shalt soon return to thy native land.”

From then on, St. Patrick began planning his escape.  The day came when he traveled safely across the country to the east coast town of Wicklow, where trading vessels were about to set sail. He approached one and was taken aboard as a crewman.

After sailing for three days, the ship landed along the shore of an unnamed country. Scholars believe the boat landed along the southwest coast of Gaul, perhaps at what is now known as Bordeaux.  After making their way on foot through a “desert” for nearly a month, the group ran out of food. 

The leader, who knew of St. Patrick's devout belief in God addressed him, saying, "What have you to say for yourself, Christian? You boast your God is all-powerful. So why can’t you pray for us, you know how badly hunger threatens us; its beginning to look as if we may not survive to see another living soul."

With great confidence St. Patrick replied, "Turn trustingly to the Lord who is my God and put your faith in him with all your heart, because nothing is impossible to him. On this same day, he will send us food sufficient for our journey, because for him there is abundance everywhere."

As the story goes, those words no sooner left St. Patrick's mouth, when a huge herd of wild pigs miraculously appeared, blocking their way.  Wasting no time, the crew dispatched enough of the animals to last for days.

According to legend, the group finished their journey through Gaul, then headed into Italy.  From there, St. Patrick traveled alone to his home, where he was joyfully received.

So, there you have it!  Now you know why pigs are included in St. Patrick's Day cards!  Have a lovely day and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

*  DON'T FORGET:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

* FRIDAYS:  You can link up any time during the week--even if it isn't Friday.  The linky is open for an entire week!*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted. 

The Charm of the Morn to You -Postcard Friendship Friday #156

What a darling little girl!  I love her dress and buttoned fingerless gloves.

On Dad's side, it is said we are Irish.  I've always felt a kinship with Ireland and Celtic music delights my soul.  When I was a tiny girl, I would dance a little dance when I was happy.  I would dance that little dance for hours, if Mom let me.

I can still remember the steps--though I'm a bit slower with age.  When I was a young woman, I once watched a program about Ireland and the dances of that wonderful country.  The dance my feet found when I was a small girl, was actually one of the traditional dances of Ireland.  Music and dance come straight from the soul sometimes--in my case it certainly did!

Have a lovely day, dear Friends.

*  DON'T FORGET:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted. 

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Postcard Friendship Friday #107

Ever forgotten to wear green on St. Patrick's Day?  When I was in school, if one forgot to wear green that day, one would receive a hearty pinching from just about everyone.  I was spared, of course, because of my green eyes.  (phew)

The tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day started in Ireland, where party goers believed  leprechauns and other fairy creatures would be given power to pinch anyone they could see.  A person wearing green was said to become invisible to these fairytale critters.

Oddly enough, pinching a person not wearing green on St. Patrick's day isn't an Irish tradition.  Rather, it started in America in the early 1700's.

The tradition reportedly started as a reminder that leprechauns and other fairy folk could sneak up and pinch anyone who wasn't wearing green on St. Patrick's Day.  The catch was, if someone pinched a person wearing green -- then that person had the right to pinch back.   Heh.

I'm SO glad I have green eyes.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone!

*  NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising and do not refer to any of the following; Postcard Friendship Friday, mailboxes, the Post office, postcards or the love of postcards, will be deleted.

 

The Wearing of the Green - Postcard Friendship Friday #53

Since Irish blood flows in my veins, I have always loved St. Patrick's Day.  I didn't appreciate the significance of the color Green until I read the stories of the Irish people's struggle for Freedom.   According to many historians the song The Wearing of The Green was written in the mid-1800's by an Irishman from Dublin, Dion Boucicault. 

After America's revolution, the Irish were inspired to seek independence for their own country.   Green became a symbol of sympathy for Irish independence.  I was astonished to discover that at that time in history, the British actually began executing persons found wearing anything green.  

There is nothing more fierce than an Irishman when riled.  The words to the song below are deeply moving.  I have an enduring love for the Irish--they are strong, loyal, plucky and fey.

The Wearing Of the Green (Lyrics)

O Paddy dear, and did you hear the news that going round?
The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground;
St. Patrick's Day no more we'll keep, his colours can't be seen,
For there's a bloody law against the wearing of the green.
I met with Napper Tandy and he took me by the hand,
And he said, "How's poor old Ireland, and how does she stand?"
She's the most distressful counterie that ever yet was seen,
And they're hanging men and women for the wearing of the green.

Then since the colour we must wear is England's cruel red,
Sure Ireland's sons will ne'er forget the blood that they have shed.
You may take a shamrock from your hat and cast it on the sod,
It will take root and flourish there though underfoot it's trod.
When law can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow,
And when the leaves in summer-time their verdure dare not show,
Then will I change the colour that I wear in my caubeen
But 'til that day, please God, I'll stick to wearing of the green.

But if at last our colour should be torn from Ireland's heart,
Our sons with shame and sorrow from this dear old isle will part;
I've heard a whisper of a land that lies beyond the sea
Where rich and poor stand equal in the light of freedom's day.
O Erin, must we leave you driven by a tyrant's hand?
Must we ask a mother's blessing from a strange and distant land?
Where the cruel cross of England shall nevermore be seen,
And where, please God, we'll live and die still wearing of the green!

NOTE:  I have looked everywhere online to find what the connection is between Saint Patrick's Day, the Irish, Ireland and Parrots, but I have been totally unsuccessful in my search.  If anybody out there knows why there are parrots on so many Irish postcards, I'd sure love to hear from you!

To see more wonderful postal stuff, visit Gemma at Greyscale Territory at Weekend Mailbox!