Family Bond Paper™

St. Patrick's Day celebration or the Irish Mardi Gras is of Irish descent. It is the feast day of St. Patrick, a Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century A.D. (after Jesus' death)  It was first celebrated in the United States in 1737 in the city of Boston.  This celebration is noted in America  for its parades, wearin' o' the green, and good fellowship. The holiday is celebrated each year on March 17. The word shamrock comes from the Irish-Gaelic word "seamrog" meaning little clover. The symbol of St. Patrick's Day is the shamrock, a small three-leaved clover. It is the national flower of Ireland. Often people all over the world will wear green on this day as a reminder of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland. St. Patrick, the priest, told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Holy Trinity--that in the one God there are three divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Or is this just a legend? The ho...

Each year, for the holidays, my company theme is Global Christmas Traditions of Americans.  It is an opportunity to introduce or reintroduce family traditions of your ancestors with the younger generations in your immediate household--your international side of you. For unison, I always invite families from other countries to participate in the theme as well.  I have discovered that most countries around the world share one common tradition behavior: lighting of candles. Amazingly, the definition of light and lighting of candles vary by community. Apparently, so does the climate.  In warmer climate communities instead of light as a holiday symbol, light-colored paper decorations are used. Austria - Light is a symbol of the eternal light God gave man in the Christ Child: "Christ is born." Three candles are lit during the holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Belgium - Candlelight religious services. Brazil - Lighting of candles by faith belie...