Bits 'n Bobs Author Blog
3/17/2017 11 Comments Guest Author Barbara Bettis on St. Patrick's Day, a Book sale, and a giveaway!Barbara Bettis is visiting today with some great info on St. Patrick. And, as a special treat, she's offering her book The Lady of the Forest for 99 cents for a limited time-- AND a chance to win a $5 gift certificate! So, read up on St. Patrick in her fun post below, scoop up a fantastic book at a fantastic price, and comment below for a chance to win the gift certificate! Happy St. Patrick's Day! from Barbara Bettis- Today my latest book goes on sale for 99 cents. Please check out The Lady of the Forest. AMAZON To celebrate, I’m giving away a $5 Amazon Gift Card to one commenter. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ’Tis the Wearing of the Green, so pin on your shamrock, watch out for leprechauns and pass the corned beef and cabbage. Yes, the venerable observance named for Ireland’s primary patron saint has become a holiday throughout the world, often celebrated with parades. Like many holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, the commemoration has taken on multiple layers over the centuries. At its heart, March 17 is the day tradition says St. Patrick died. Originally it was a feast day, a day of spiritual renewal, and was celebrated from the 9th or 10th Century, although one source says the Catholic Church made it an official feast day in the 1600s. Who was St. Patrick? He was born in Roman Britain in about 385 AD of Roman-British descent. He says in his Confessio ( Confession) that at the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland where he became a slave and tended sheep. After four years, he escaped when he had a dream in which God told him to go to the coast. He did, and found sailors willing to give him passage (after he prayed for God to give them a sign). He returned home, where, some years later he reported he had a vision of a man who handed him a letter headed “The Voice of the Irish.” When Patrick started to read, he heard the voices of many saying, 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'" This inspired him to study for the priesthood. He was ordained and eventually sent to Ireland, arriving March 25, in the year 433. Some traditions say he brought Christianity to Ireland, but other scholars report that Christian missionaries were already in Ireland when he arrived. However, he took his message throughout the countryside, converting thousands of people and building churches. He is said to have explained the Holy Trinity using the shamrock. This symbol proved effective, sources say, because the people were familiar with triads from their Celtic deities. However it occurred, St. Patrick was extremely successful in converting the Irish to Christianity. There are conflicting theories on the year of his death, but the most commonly accepted is 461. He was buried on cathedral hill, (where Down Cathedral later was built) in Downpatrick, about 21 miles south of what is now Belfast, Ireland. He drove the snakes from Ireland. That’s one of the most famous myths surrounding the saint. In fact, scientists say, there were never snakes on that island. These days, we’re so familiar with the celebratory nature of the holiday—wearing green, parades, corned beef and cabbage. Oddly enough, blue was always associated with St. Patrick. However, over the years various Irish rebellious organizations adopted green as their color and green has since been associated with Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. Ironically, the first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was held —you guessed it—in the U.S. In 1762, Irish soldiers stationed with the British army in the Colonies marched in New York City. And that traditional Irish fare of corned beef and cabbage—isn’t. In Ireland, beef was too valuable to be eaten by the ordinary people. They dined on pork—bacon or ham. Not until immigrants arrived in the U.S. to find beef the cheaper meat did it supplant ham/bacon. Often associated with the Day’s celebration, yet not connected with St. Patrick, leprechauns are straight from the Celtic folk tales. They’re mischievous sprites who love to plague humans and who guard their treasure by fair means or foul. Perhaps mortals will never find the leprechauns’ gold at the end of the rainbow. But the culture of the world is richer for this holiday honoring the saint who was instrumental in bringing Christianity to Ireland and inspiring a tradition that—for one day—brings people of all nationalities together. Because as the saying goes, “On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish.” * * * Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day http://www.catholic.org/news/national/story.php?id=73999 http://www.ireland.com/en-us/articles/st-patrick-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick#Dating http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/why-do-irish-americans-eat-corned-beef-and-cabbage-instead-of-bacon-for-st-patricks-day-196470851-237570541 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=101 http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/lebor4.html (The Tuatha de Dannan) http://store.isisbooks.com/The_Triple_Goddess_s/401.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_deity https://ericwedwards.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/the-celtic-triple-goddess-and-the-divine-hag/ http://www.yourirish.com/folklore/legend-of-leprechauns * * * BLURB: He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart? When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty. Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate's past catches her. When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart. #Sale 99 cents: The Lady of the Forest. AMAZON * * * Thank you, Barbara! It was great to have your post on this St. Patrick's day! Readers, be sure to leave your comment below to be entered for a chance to win the gift certificate. If you do not wish to leave your email address (I promise to use it only to contact the winner), you'll need to check back in a couple of days to see if you've won. ~Cathy
11 Comments
barbara bettis
3/17/2017 09:07:05 am
Thanks for hosting me today, Cathy. I enjoyed looking into the St. Patrick story. And he didn't drive the snakes from Ireland? Geez!!! I recall a cartoon I saw once--a man in a bishop's outfit driving a car with snakes seated to his right and in the back seat. The snakes were saying, "Are we there yet?" "Are we there yet?" Happy St. Patrick's Day.
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Cathy MacRae
3/17/2017 11:59:24 am
It's great to have you here today, Barbara! And, I've seen the cartoon! Hilarious!
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Patricia C
3/17/2017 09:51:05 am
Thank you for the information about Saint Patrick's day!
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barbara bettis
3/17/2017 12:30:23 pm
Glad you stopped by Patricia!
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3/17/2017 11:29:34 am
Enjoyed reading about the history of St. Patrick. My husband loves St. Patrick's Day. His name is Patrick. However, contrary to what he thinks, he's no saint. LOL
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barbara bettis
3/17/2017 12:32:06 pm
I chuckled at your comment about your Patrick ,Sandra! Thanks for the kind words about TLOF. :)
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3/17/2017 12:37:38 pm
A lovely post about St. Patrick. I recently learned I have an Irish great grandmother and now I'm looking more into my Irish heritage.
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barbara bettis
3/17/2017 04:50:09 pm
How exciting, Angelina! Good luck on tracing that part of your heritage! Thanks for stopping by.
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3/17/2017 03:18:44 pm
I love St. Paddy's Day, the magic of it, the cheesy green stuff, the leprechauns, etc. And I love Barbara's writing, so this blog today is a win-win!
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barbara bettis
3/17/2017 04:52:12 pm
Hugs, Hebby. And you know I love your writing, too! I'm so glad you came by.
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