CELTIC PICKLE
Green is associated with the Faeries, and is of more ancient origin than "The wearing of the green" for St.Patrick's Day. The eating of the green... St Patrick is not a celtic hero. He burned 180 books written in the celtic language. Driving the snakes out of Ireland is a metaphor for the destruction of the pagan way of life. Other christians were just as fanatical. It's ironic, though, how closely the christian belief in saints and angels parallel old cultural myths. We are more alike than different in our religious beliefs (but not necessarily in religious practice.)

There are wonderful celtic tales and myths: Cu Chulainn (pronounced "Koo Hoo Lan") is my favorite. "The Hound of Ulster" was a boy who killed the guard dog of the king's blacksmith and offered to take it's place for a year. Fionn mac Cumhail (pronounced "Fin Mick Cool) is another famous, larger-than-life hero, somewhat like our Paul Bunyan.
It's Not Easy Being Green
It's a big job, but somebody has to do it. I was called "Irish" as a nickname at one time in my life (am called other things now, "mom" primarily.) I aspired to live up to that responsibility, keep up the Irish image, although it's only a small part of my actual background.

I had a close, excellent role model. My dad is a sterotypical Irishman, although not of pure descent, either. He even looks like a handsome Irishman: tall and thin with high cheekbones and almost slanted green eyes. Dad read Dr. Seuss to us as little kids; it suited his imagination and we kids loved it, too. I learned to read with "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" a perfect beginning book. It was a lot more interesting and fun than the Dick and Jane, Sally, Spot and Puff reader my older brother brought home from school. Dad also told us stories. The only one I clearly remember is the continuing saga of the Leprechaun in the potato bin. It was only when I was much older, that I fully appreciated that tongue-in-cheek humor. But I really think he half believed his tales himself.


Celtic Festivals
ALBAN ARTHUAN, Winter Solstice, the sun god dies and is reborn

IMBOLG (February 1), a time of cleansing and renewal

ALBAN EILER, Spring Equinox, the first yearly balance between light and dark. The earth cycle of plant and animal life begins again.

BELTANE (May 1), May Day, a fertility festival.

ALBAN HERIUN, Summer Solstice, the most powerful time to gather herbs.

LUGHNASSADH, (August 1)

ALBAN ELVED, Autumn Equinox, completion of the harvest

SAMHAIN (November 1), the end of one year, beginning of the next. Ancestor night, barriers between the worlds are at the thinnest.


The Ogham
The ancient Celts had a special reverence for trees. They used an alphabet, with a tree assigned to each letter.