Greetings & Blessings to all
Welcome to our December newsletter.
This newsletter is early this Christmas. Normally, I would plan on sending it about a week before the day but I’m doing Christmas dinner here – by myself. I’ll need all the time I can get so the newsletter must go out early. I hope everybody understands.
Here in our Ohio river valley we had a, very brief, Indian Summer. I’ve been taking my morning walks in temperatures of about 40 something degrees (that’s farenheit). I’m walking slowly and enjoying the view without the leaves on the trees. I haven’t had snow or ice - yet. I said last month I had to bake an apple pie and a mince pie for thanksgiving. I succeeded and they were good. Now I have to do it again for Christmas (sigh). Once again my thanks for the contributions of jokes and everything else. Please keep those contributions coming. I only had two jokes since then and, well, one wasn’t all that funny. I may just go back to my archives. They may be old but I know many of you have never heard them. If they are too tired then send me some more!
We’re all in this together let’s make it as good as we can. Stay with me everybody.
Enough of the blather...
Is this your first edition? Many thanks for joining us and if you like our musings and meanderings. please feel free to share them with your family and friends. And do encourage them to sign up. The more of us, the merrier! And for all of our readers, we hope this issue finds you in good health, good spirits and good company.
On with the update...
IN THIS ISSUE:
Links
Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts
A Bit of the Wit
Joke of The Month
Did You Know
The week That Is
Leave 'em Laughing
LINKS
1. It's mean to snark but the new Bewley’s is ‘disappointing’
Since the clattery old Museum of Memories that happens to be a cafe reopened on Grafton Street, there have been queues of us with skin in the game, standing in line for a gawk and an almond bun. We’re wondering if Bewley’s is still the same or maybe we’re wondering if we’re still the same. It’s a big responsibility being curator of all this goneness.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/it-s-mean-to-snark-but-the-new-bewley-s-is-disappointing-1.3298590
2. NASA astronaut shares incredible photo of Ireland from space
A NASA astronaut’s breathtaking photo of Ireland from outer space has gone viral on social media.
Randy Bresnik, who is taking part in a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station, shared his snap of Dublin city to Twitter.
3. Exploring the Skelligs: Irish islands feel the Force
A rocky pyramid emerges out of a dark blue sea. It is cinematic even before you add the Millennium Falcon.
You can see why "Star Wars" producers chose Skellig Michael as a location in a galaxy far, far away.
The small rocky island sits about 8 miles off the southwest coast of Ireland. It hosts a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ancient Christian monastery famous for its architecture consisting of stone "beehive" huts built without mortar.
http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/skellig-islands-star-wars/index.html
I always wanted to visit the Skelligs. The last time we were there we were told the Ferry wasn’t running. I think we were misled – oh well.
—Russ
4. Late Late Toy Show: you’d need a cold heart to be unmoved
For anybody unfamiliar with The Late Late Toy Show – which is to say, anyone who has severed all diplomatic and cultural ties to Ireland – it can be hard to offer up any kind of adequate description.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/late-late-toy-show-you-d-need-a-cold-heart-to-be-unmoved-1.3312658?utm_source=morning_digest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_digest
5. Irish language in Northern Ireland sees popular revival amid political controversy
While a political crisis drags on over whether Irish should be enshrined alongside English as an official language of Northern Ireland, the language itself is undergoing a renaissance.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/irish-language-northern-ireland-1.4422116
6. Top ten reasons to love Irish redheads
Although the typical view of Irish people is that we all have red hair and freckles just ten percent of the population are redheads.
The rest of us are just jealous and here are a few of the reasons why.
https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/top-ten-reasons-being-a-irish-redhead-is-awesome-photos-212543771-237781961?utm_campaign=Best+of+IrishCentral+-+2017-12-01&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet
My sister is a redhead and, as Barry Fitzgerald said “sure and that red hair of hers is no lie”— Russ
QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS
Don’t be surprised
If I demur, for, be advised
My passport’s green.
No glass of ours was ever raised
To toast The Queen.
Seamus Heaney in an open letter from a Field Day Pamphlet rebuking the editors of the Penguin Book of Contemporary British Poetry for including him among its authors.
If I demur, for, be advised
My passport’s green.
No glass of ours was ever raised
To toast The Queen.
Seamus Heaney in an open letter from a Field Day Pamphlet rebuking the editors of the Penguin Book of Contemporary British Poetry for including him among its authors.
A BIT OF THE WIT
..."the drink and I have been friends for so long, it would be a pity for me to leave without one last kiss."
The last words of harpist, singer and compose Turlough O'Carolan who died on March 25 1738.
The last words of harpist, singer and compose Turlough O'Carolan who died on March 25 1738.
JOKE OF THE MONTH
A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and says that her body hurts wherever she touches it. "Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me." The redhead takes her finger, pushes on her left breast and screams, then she pushes her elbow and screams in even more agony. She pushes her knee and screams; likewise she pushes her ankle and screams. Everywhere she touches makes her scream. The doctor says, "You're not really a redhead, are you? "Well, no" she says, "I'm actually a blonde." "I thought so," the doctor says. "Your finger is broken."
DID YOU KNOW
- Cahirciveen in Kerry was once so inaccessible from the rest of Ireland that it was quicker to send newspapers and mail from Dublin via New York?
I suppose they thought it might be more important if it came from New York.—Russ
2. According to Irish folklore, it's bad luck to take the Christmas decorations down before January 6? Of course, that’s the feast of the Epiphany. We exchange gifts then. It gives us more time to buy presents —Russ
3. Pope Gregory reformed the calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45BCE? The 4th of October was followed by the 15th October. However, the reform was not implemented in Ireland till 1752
And even then, the monks on the islands stayed with “old time”, as they called it.
–Russ
THE WEEK THAT IS
1. Article: An Advent Memory
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Advent.html
2. Article: Irish Superstitions for the Christmas Season
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACustom/XmasSprtitions.html
3. Article: An Irish Christmas - Waiting for St. Nicholas
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Xmas5th.html
4. Article: Time at this Point of the Year
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasPt_in%20Time.html
5. Article: Yes, Kelsey & Maddie O'Flaherty, there is a Santa Claus
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XVirginiaSanta.html
6. Article: Many Years Ago
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AWriters/JohnBKeane.html
7. The Irish Kitchen: Preparing the Puddings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aXmasPud.html
9. Basic Irish: Words and Phrases for the Holiday Season
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Xmas.html
10. Kids’ Ireland: Midnight Visitors
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/XmasVisit.html
So there you have it until we write again - sometime in January.
If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of December, here is your special verse:
When December’s showers fall fast,
Marry and true love will last
And, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event between now and our next edition, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness. With Christmas approaching, we’ll take our leave with this blessing:
Blessing for Advent
On this first Sunday of advent
May the coming light that is our Lord
fill you and yours with joy and peace
All the best & God Bless,
Bridget & Russ
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.
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LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING
Miss O'Leary, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was much admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. The parish priest came to call on her one afternoon early in the spring, and she welcomed him into her little cottage. She invited him to have a seat while she made the tea. As he sat facing her old pump organ, the priest noticed a cut glass bowl sitting on top of it, filled with water. In the water floated, of all things, an item the menfolk use to help prevent conception. Imagine his shock and surprise. Imagine his curiosity! Surely Miss O'Leary had lost her senses! When she returned with the tea and scones, they began to chat. The priest tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its unusual contents, but soon it got the better of him; he could resist no longer. Miss O'Leary," he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?" (pointing to the bowl). "Oh, yes, Father," she replied, "Isn't it wonderful? I was walking in the village last October and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to put it on the organ, keep it wet, and it would prevent disease. And you know... I haven't had a cold all winter.
I have a few others with Miss O’Leary. I’ll put them in future Newsletters
—Russ
Last Words
Because this is Christmas, I’m more and more aware of my shortage of funds for presents. If you or anyone you know can benefit from advertising in my newsletter please contact me. My E-Mail address is: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com
Thank you in advance
For all of you who have supported Irish Culture and Customs all these years – thank you.
When you start to buy your Christmas gifts don’t forget to go through the web Site. If you use Amazon, click on ‘Shopping’ at the top of the page and the next page you see will have Amazon at the top. Anything you buy from Amazon through our site pays a (very small) commission. It beats a blank and it doesn’t effect your price. Thank you again.
—Russ
