(Pronunciation: Ban-ochth-thee na Fay-leh val-in-theen)

Literally, Blessings of St. Valentine

 

Welcome to our St. Valentine’s Day special edition; we hope it finds you in good health, good company. and good spirits. If this is your first  newsletter from Irish Culture and Customs, many thanks for signing up and we hope you enjoy our musings and meanderings. And please feel free to share them with your family and friends.

 

Onwards.

 

As this isn’t our regular monthly edition,  there are  omissions - but not to worry, they will all return. Thus, if you haven’t tried your hand at our writer’s quiz or the riddle, now’s your chance. The most recent  newsletter is archived here:

https://ymlp.com/archive_geejhqgjge.php

 

So...what are your plans for the day that’s in it? Years ago,  we used to throw caution to the budgetary wind and book ourselves into a favourite local hotel for a couple of days. There was an amazing steakhouse within the hotel complex and we just totally indulged ourselves. What lovely memories to look back on - and whatever your circumstances in 2012, we hope that God willing, you and yours might also have the pleasure of sweet recollections from past St.  Valentine’s celebrations that we do. 

 

Alas, being on a very stringent budget, we can no longer afford to be so cavalier with the income - but that doesn’t mean we won’t celebrate; Russ always reads to Herself  from the Rubyiat by Omar Khyam translated by  Edward FitzGerald, and even though we’ve pretty much given up eating beef for health reasons as well as financial, we will make an exception and fix what we hope will be an awesome  steak dinner.  And there will be a Champagne toast!  To be sure, it won’t be Dom Perignon, but since we’ve never had the pleasure of tasting that, we won’t care!

 

As of this writing, we’ve had less than twenty donations. We know times are very difficult for many people and we do understand if you can’t afford to help us with even just a euro, dollar, pound or whatever your currency might be.  However, to sweeten the pot, we had a great suggestion from one of our most loyal readers and supporters, Mr. Bill Deegan: have another drawing for books, CDs or movies and for every five dollars, get 50 - yes,  FIFTY - entries into all the drawings we have year round. Double that five and get 100 entries - and so on!  We are going to try it and see what happens.  Up for grabs this time around is a copy of Anam Cara by John O’Donahue, The Quiet man movie,  and the CD Celtic Harp by the Chieftains. Drawing for this selection of prizes will be held on St. Patrick’s Day. We’ve always said that if every subscriber sent a dollar, we would far exceed what we need. So, if that’s all you can afford, please don’t be shy about sending it. And again many thanks in advance for your kindness.

Contributions can be made via PayPal at this address:

bhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com

 

Or by snail mail to:

Bridget & Russ Haggerty

5814 Blue Spruce 

Ohio 45224

 

 

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LeaveThemEm Laughing

 

 

The first time we heard this, we were in Blarney Woolen Mills and Herself had to have it. The CD simply called Love Songs  is one of our all time favourites. It’s in our library and still available on amazon. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMf6IyJI0e4&feature=related

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6Ajh-joNhY

 

Sung in Irish - but with subtitles. The photos of Ireland are breath-taking

Lauren from Gaelic Girls TV  asks the question of a  wide variety of Irish people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVHh4x8SBYc

 

 

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“If you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. In the kingdom of love there is no competition; there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” 

 

May the sons of your sons smile up in your face

 

This one is adapted from one sent in by Barry at Kellys in the Bahamas - thank you!

Mike wakes up at home with a huge hangover. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees are a couple of aspirins and a glass of water on the bedside table. He sits up in bed and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and ironed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotless. He takes the aspirins and sees a note on the table which says "Breakfast is on the stove, dear. I left early to go shopping. Love you!" He goes to the kitchen and sure enough, there's a hot breakfast waiting for him, and also the morning newspaper. His son is sitting at the table, eating. Really curious by now, Mike asks, "Son, what happened last night?" His son says, "Well, Mam said you came home after 3 a.m, you stumbled in the door, threw up in the hallway, and passed out half-way up the stairs. Confused, Mike asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me?" His son replies, "Oh, that! Mam dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your trousers off, you yelled "Leave me alone woman, I'm a married man"

 

SPONSOR: Please help us keep your newsletter coming - visit our good friends at Lollysmith

 ...who would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patronage  in 2011 year and wish you a very happy, health and prosperous New Year. And don’t forget - whatever the occasion, birthdays, graduations, weddings or anniversaries, you’re sure to find the perfect present at  Lollysmith!  Stop by soon and tell them Bridget & Russ said hello. 

http://search.store.yahoo.net/lollysmith/cgi-bin/nsearch?lollysmith

 

1. The crocus, which flowers about this time in Ireland, is St Valentine's Flower?

 

2. W. B Yeats dedicated most of his love poetry to Maude Gonne?

 

3. According to irish custom, A man should always be the first to wish joy to a bride - never a woman?

 

 

So there you have it until we send out our regular February edition toward the end of the month. Meanwhile, the snowdrops are up, the countdown to St. Patrick’s Day has  begun, and even though  it’s snowing out our office window, we can feel this lovely anticipation  of spring in the wings. May that delightful  sensation be yours wherever you are! We’ll take our leave with this lovely blessing for the day that’s in it:

 

 

And, as they say in Ireland, mind yourself. 

 

Slan agus beannachtái

 

 

Get down on your knees and thank God you’re still on your feet. 

Téigh ar do ghlúine is bí buíoch le Dia go bhfuil tú fós ar do chosa.

ED. NOTE: We put the Irish back in per a request by Mary in New York - but we’re not sure it’s grammatically correct. We know we have several Irish speakers out there,  so please check it and let us know if we need to make any changes. Go raibh maith agat!