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Ridgewood NJ, according to VCA Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital ,Irish Soda Bread is for people, not pets! We see it in the grocery stores around St. Patrick’s Day, but remember that there are lots of raisins in Irish Soda Bread, which are extremely toxic to pets. Did you know that a small snack sized box of raisins has the potential to kill a 60 lb. dog? Enjoy this treat with butter or cream cheese, but NOT with your pets! Have a Happy, Safe St. Patrick’s Day!
Ireland, a land of captivating landscapes and enchanting folklore, has long held a special place in the hearts of travelers worldwide. Beyond its bustling cities and vibrant culture, this emerald isle is also home to a hidden treasure trove of natural wonders waiting to be discovered. From rugged cliffs that kiss the Atlantic waves to lush, rolling hills that seem to stretch to infinity, Ireland’s rich natural heritage beckons explorers and nature enthusiasts alike. In this blog post, we’ll embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of this island’s breathtaking beauty and reveal how you can connect with Ireland’s untamed wilderness on your travels. Let’s dive in!
Continue reading How to Connect with Ireland’s Rich Natural Heritage on Your Travels
photos courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and the Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County, Inc
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Bergenfield NJ, the 41st Annual Bergen County St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in Bergenfield on Sunday, March 12, 2023.Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said in Facebook post ,”Had a wonderful time marching down Washington Avenue yesterday for the annual Bergen County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade! Kudos to the Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County, Inc for once again organizing a wonderful and festive event!”
photos courtesy of Ridgewood Irish Dance
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Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Irish Dance reflects on what an amazing year 2022 has been! From March Madness, to Pubs and Parades to Community Centers, Programs & schools & of course our favorite pro teams thank you to everyone who invented us to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with them & supported Ridgewood Irish Dance & dancers!
Continue reading Ridgewood Irish Dance reflects on what an amazing year 2022 has been!
| Join us as the Knights of Columbus continues the tradition that the People of Ireland started over a thousand years ago. Help drive the snakes from the Village of Ridgewood. Gather with friends and family to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick and enjoy a fine meal and entertainment. When: Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Auditorium Dinner: Full-Course Corned Beef & Cabbage Buffet Dinner, Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks Entertainment:Celtic Cross BandIrish Step DancersBagpipersGrand Prize Raffle Drawing for a trip to Ireland |
USA TODAY NETWORKJolie Lee, for USA TODAY NETWORK
et out your green! It’s St. Patrick’s Day. USA TODAY Network explains the origins of some of the Irish holiday’s traditions.
1. Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick — brace yourself — was not actually Irish. Patrick was a nobleman born in about 400 A.D. in Britain and kidnapped by Irish pirates at the age of 16, said Philip Freeman, author of St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography.
Patrick was born into a religious family, but was an atheist early in his life. However, he rediscovered his faith while enslaved in Ireland, Freeman told USA TODAY Network.
After 17 years as a slave, St. Patrick escaped Ireland and found his way home, but returned to Ireland as a missionary.
“He said he was ready to die in Ireland in order to make his mission successful,” Freeman said.
It’s unclear if St. Patrick did in fact die in Ireland, but March 17 is widely believed to be the day of his death, according to Freeman.
2. Green River in Chicago is a family affair:
Another unique tradition that has grown in popularity every year is the annual dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick’s Day.
February 12,2016
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Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus are once again proud to be sponsoring their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 19th, beginning at7:00 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gymnasium at 52 Passaic Street in Ridgewood.
Guests will first be greeted by bagpipers. The Best of Everything will cater a full-course of traditional Irish fare including corned beef and cabbage. The Celtic Cross Band will be playing Irish classics and great dance music, along with a special appearance by the Irish Step Dancers from the McLoughlin Dance School. There will also be a grand prize raffle drawing for a trip to Ireland.
Tickets are $55 per person. Payment can be mailed to:
Ted Bragg
471 Heights Road
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Come enjoy this annual celebration as the Knights of Columbus continue the tradition that the People of Ireland started over a thousand years ago. And what better way to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick then to gather with friends and family, enjoy a fine meal, and dance to great music!
Come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s with the Ridgewood Knights !
The Ridgewood Police Department is urging the public to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day ,responsibly and never drive drunk.
Here are some safety tips from the NHTSA:
■Designate your sober driver or have an alternate transportation plan before the party begins.
■If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come ……and get you; or just stay where you are and don’t drive until you are sober.
■Never let a friend drive drunk. Arrange a safe way for them to get home.
■Don’t ride in a vehicle with a driver who is intoxicated.
■Always buckle up. It’s still your best defense against drunk drivers.
If you are hosting a party:
■Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange alternate transportation.
■Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
■Stop serving alcohol a few hours before the end of the party and begin serving coffee and dessert.
■Keep the phone number of local cab companies on hand, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk and get them a cab ride home.
■Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.
■If an underage person drinks and drives, parents may be held liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.
■Likewise, parents or other adults who provide alcohol to, or host a party where alcohol is available to, those under age 21 could face jail time.
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, the saint’s religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
St. Patrick and the First St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.
Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick on March 17. Interestingly, however, the first parade held to honor St. Patrick’s Day took place not in Ireland but in the United States. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig is the Gaelic way of expressing a wish that you have all the blessings of St Patrick’s Day and the “luck of the Irish” to go with it. There are many humorous explanations for this expression. One comes from the legend of the ‘Little People’ of the land, know as leprechauns. Finding or catching a leprechaun (who would then give you gold) was a lucky event that could only take place in Ireland ! The Irish are descendants of great Celtic and Viking fighters and invaders. Their natural fighting skills often ensured survival & hence they became known as the ‘lucky’ people .a classic case of making your own luck ! But then “The Luck of the Irish” may all be legend.
Saint Patricks Day Parades Worldwide, Irish Pubs all around the globe, Fun Runs, Irish Associations, Irish Music Festivals, Irish Names, Irish Dancing Schools, Irish Music Irish Roots, Irish Festivals,Scottish Highland Games USA & Canada, as well as, Scottish Pipes & Drum Bands.
St Patricks Day is for thinking about our Saint as well as a time to think of loved ones across the water.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.
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Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been – the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the “Holy Wells” that still bear this name.
There are several accounts of Saint Patrick’s death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the “evil eye.” Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city
Why Saint Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.
In American cities with a large Irish population, St. Patrick’s Day is a very big deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, “wearing of the green,” music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green! ( https://www.st-patricks-day.com/about_saintpatrick.asp )
photo’s by ArtChick Photo’s shot at Irish Eyes on Ridgewood Ave
