Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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This month’s newsletter features a few old Irish customs,
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 store updates, and a talent search.
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From the book: “The Year in Ireland” by Kevin Danaber
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“St. Patrick’s Pot” or “The drowning of the Shamrock” by no means implies that it is necessary to get drunk in doing so. At the end of the day the shamrock which has been worn in the coat or the hat is removed and put into the final glass of grog or tumbler of punch; and when the health has been drunk or the toast honored, the shamrock should be picked out from the bottom of the glass and thrown over the left shoulder. 
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Everybody should have meat for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day both in honor of the festival and as a relief from Lenten abstinence. Jocelin, who as a monk in the Abbey of Furnes wrote, early in the twelfth century, an account of the life of St. Patrick tells us how Patrick, during his religious training in France was tempted to eat meat and for the purpose hid some pieces of pork, but repented so sincerely that God sent an angel to comfort him. Then St. Patrick, rising from the earth, utterly renounced and abjured the eating of flesh-meat, even through the rest of his life and he humbly besought the Lord that he would manifest unto him his Pardon by some evident Sign. The Angel bade Patrick to bring forth the hidden meats and put them into Water, and he did as the Angel bade; and the flesh –meats being plunged into the Water and taken there out , immediately became Fishes. If Jocelin was correctly informed about such an Irish custom in his time, it means that about the year 1100 Irish people ate meat on St. Patrick’s Day, whether they really pretended that it was fish, so as to evade the Lenten law, or ate it with the church’s sanction and jokingly referred to it as St. Patrick’s fish in contrast to the Lenten fish. 
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“Whipping the Herring” – In a number of towns the butchers, who had little sale for their meat during Lent, celebrated the coming of Easter and the return of normal business by holding a mock funeral of a herring, symbolizing abstinence. The custom was dubbed “Whipping the Herring” and heralded the last day of Lent. The ritual usually got under way early on Easter Saturday morning. The butchers’ boys assembled and tied dozens of herring to a long, light rope which one of the boys would fling over his shoulder. The boys would then run from the laneway, dragging the line of fish behind him. The other boys would follow; all armed with sticks or whips, and would constantly flog the fish until not a trace was left on the rope. 
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Celtic Rainbow Update: The Bar Harbor store will open for the season in mid-May. It’s been a long winter and I’m very much looking forward to spring. As you know, my year round store in Ellsworth closed for good on January 26th 2008. The numbers just were not there to keep it going. Whether it was the location or the economy, who knows!  
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One of the reasons I wanted a year round store was to have more of a Celtic community in this area with music and events. However, the landlord put such a high price on using the space that it just wasn’t possible to do those sorts of things there. Instead, I’m thinking of a virtual Celtic community online by having a blog on my web site. I’ll keep you updated.  Outstanding gifts cards can be used at the Bar Harbor store or online. The web site will soon be updated with new items and the big changes in gold prices. 
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TALENT SEARCH
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What I’d like to do this season is have more events on the deck of the Bar Harbor store.
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Do you have a “Celtic” talent you’d like to share with us??  Let me know what you’d like to do and when you’ll be visiting and we can make the arrangements. Don’t be shy, it will be fun!  I’d have to know a little bit in advance, so drop me an email: linda@celticrainbowgifts.com   In the past we’ve had Bloomsday readings, step dancing, salmon fly tying, storytelling, a St. Brigid’s Cross making workshop, sing-a-longs and some really great music.  
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Wishing you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Happy Easter, and a welcome start of spring. Slainte, Linda
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