March Musings '19: Wearing of the Green

Each year, my hometown celebrates St. Patrick's Day in style. There is the wearing of the green and I don't mean just green sweaters, ties, and kilts. A few weeks before the parade, the main street on the parade root is painted with green stripes and decorated with Irish flags. Everyone knows this indicates that the parade is soon to start. 

The parade is a joyous celebration. Families line up to see the fire engines, police cars, and the bagpipe players. I especially like to watch the kilted musicians playing favorite tunes. This is a day when everyone is Irish. Obviously, I live in village that is filled with many Irish families. As our young priest noted in church several weeks ago, there are at least 500 families with common Irish names. Naturally, the wearing of the green is popular in Rockville Centre where the village townsfolk are proud to have a grand parade each year.

This year, I happened to come out of yoga in time to see the bagpipe players followed by a biker group on their motorcycles. The children in front of me were clapping with joy. There were smiles, laughing, and long lines of marchers.

The parade is an intergenerational good time. Take a look at the photos I took. 

St. Patrick's Day

by Eliza Cook

St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Day!

Oh! thou tormenting Irish lay—

I've got thee buzzing in my brain,

And cannot turn thee out again.

Oh, mercy! music may be bliss

But not is such a shape as this,

When all I do, and all I say,

Begins and ends in St. Patrick's Day.

You can read the rest of the poem here.

Day 24 o.f 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings #18: Pot of Gold

In my town, St. Patrick's Day brings out the best in everyone. From the morning yoga class to our friends' gathering, green was everywhere. The joyous spirit of St. Patrick's Day was infectious as it brought lots of smiles and happiness throughout the day. 

I found my pot of gold last night as my friends and I celebrated life, friendship, and husbands' birthdays with a delicious corn beef and cabbage dinner party.

Sending an Irish Blessing your way!
May you always have...
Wall for the winds.
A roof for the rain.
Tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer.
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.

********

 

Day 18 of  Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Story

Wearing of the Green

On a chilled March day, the village of Rockville Centre donned the green as families lined the streets for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. 

Eager anticipation was seen in the eyes of the children, bundled in thick, cream-colored Irish sweaters or winter jackets, who patiently waited for the fire trucks to appear.

The chilly temperatures did not dissuade those who were eager to watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade come marching into the village. 

Green-garbed folk lined the street.

     A sea of different-sized leprechauns

             flanked the village green and police station.

                      All waited in the chilled afternoon air.

With festivity, 
the marchers appeared. 

politicians smiled, 

shook hands, 

and horse hooves 
clomped on by. 

A spirit of community 
existed on this day of days
as an amazing explosion 

of sights and sounds 

paraded on by. 

Excitement was in the air. 

Camaraderie warmed the day. 
The luck of the Irish
was with all.

My first entry, The Luck of the Irish, paved the way for this retelling of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. 

Please enjoy this short video, Wearing of the Green, that I created in Animoto.

On this day of days in Rockville Centre, 

everyone was Irish and merriment 

felt by all who lined the parade route. 

This post marks the twenty-second one of my Clearing a Path series for the Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Challenge - Day 22.