Happy St. Patrick's (and St. Gertrude's) Day!

ChastMastr

Slightly belated, but happy St. Patrick's Day--and also happy St. Gertrude's Day (patron saint of cats!)!

Arethosemyfeet

How can cats have a patron saint? They're clearly members of the other party.

MaryLouise

Who hasn't wanted a little black cat as a familiar?St Gertrude of Nivelles had her witchy feminist streak and it is thought that medieval folklore associated her with the goddess Frigg, often depicted riding a cat.

Ariel

Thanks. I used to love St Patrick’s Day being a national holiday, getting the day off and the specialness of it all – St George’s Day doesn’t have even remotely the same impact in England. I mark the day alone. There’s nobody to send cards to for the day, or make plans with, and I don’t usually get any personal messages.

I admit to being a bit hurt yesterday by someone on social media saying “forget about St Patrick, here’s St Gertrude”, but that’s obviously something that people can relate to better so I don’t blame them – but it is a big thing on the other side of the Irish Sea and it’d be nice to be able to share the joy of the day with someone.

Catholicism was outlawed in Ireland at one point so being able to celebrate a saint’s day has an extra significance. I wonder how many people realize that.

Sojourner

It was outlawed in colonial Oz for the first 40 years so a well known fact here. No surprises that the (now) cathedral church of Parramatta ( westen Sydney) was dedicated to St Patrick. Parramatta was the site if the infamous Female Factory where the Irish Sisters of Charity first established their ministry. It was also not far from the place where the Rev Samuel Marsden ( aka the Flogging Parson) presided as a magistrate and ran his farm “Mamre” with convict labour.

ChastMastr

Hugs to Ariel!

Ariel

Thanks, ChastMastr! I see you're even wearing green 💚

Alan Cresswell

How many are also celebrating St Porcelain Day?

Nenya

Had I been a bit more organised at the weekend I'd have celebrated St Patrick's Day a bit more appropriately, with Irish stew and colcannon, but life rather overtook me. I hope to do better next year.

Years ago my brother (RIPARIG), who was well-travelled, had been to Ireland and said nowhere had he met its equal, either in the beauty of its landscape or the friendliness of its people. When, in recent years, Mr Nen and I visited I felt the same - the people were just wonderful and who knew there were that many shades of green? Since then I've discovered that my paternal grandfather was Irish - something never mentioned by my father who for some reason known best to himself (though I have my theory, which is mine) always played up his Scottish heritage and spoke of merely "a touch of Irish." Since then I've been embracing my Irish roots and am looking forward to visiting again.

Piglet

Ireland is indeed a lovely country with lovely people - we thoroughly enjoyed the 15 years we spent there.

I did once have recourse to St Porcelain following a spot of overindulgence on St Patrick's Day, but it was a very long time ago, when I was younger and foolisher than I am now!