Irish culture!✿

The culture of Ireland includes customs and traditions, language, music, art, literature, folklore, cuisine and sports associated with Ireland and the Irish people. 

For most of its recorded history, Ireland's culture has been primarily Gaelic and it has also been influenced by Anglo-Norman.

Ireland has dramatically changed over the years leaving behind some of the older traditions. One thing that is not as popular as it once was but is seen as a typical Irish traditions is our blessings. Many of the Irish blessings that are a thing of the past in Ireland are still kept alive by people from all over the world.

March 17th marks the day of St Patrick, celebrated by millions of people around the world. In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was always held as an important religious day to celebrate the teachings of Christianity by St Patrick.

- The interpretations of the Trinity Knot:

Christians believe that the three points of the Irish trinity knot represent the three elements of the holy trinity:the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

Pagans see the trinity knot as a representation of the natural forces-earth, air and water.

In terms of history, Christians feel that the Irish trinity knot started with the Monks, who brought the trinity knot design along with Christianity converting the Celts.  

Saint Patrick’s Guild has many trinity knot pendants and jewelry available. In addition, with the holidays just around the corner there are trinity knot Christmas ornaments and cards are also available.

-Irish High Crosses:

High Crosses or Celtic Crosses as they are are also known, are found throughout Ireland on old monastic sites. Some of this crosses were probably used as meeting points for religious ceremonies and others were used to mark boundaries.

The earliest crosses in Ireland were made of wood and metal and probably much smaller than the great stone monuments we see today.

The Celtic cross is widely used as Christian symbol, but as we can tell from its name, the cross has a history stretching further back than Christianity. For example, its four arms are interpreted as the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), the four directions of the compass (north, south, east, west) or the four parts of man (mind, soul, heart, body), in various cultures and traditions. 

The Celtic cross is said to have derived from the Chi Ro Symbol, as popularized by the Roman emperor, Constantine. "Chi" and "Rho" are the first letters of the word "Christ" in the Greek alphabet, and when these letters are interlinked, they appear similar to the cross at the centre of a Celtic cross. 

But where does the cross's distinctive circle come from? The truth is, no one is sure, but among ancient races, circles were used to represent the moon and a cross and circle conjoined symbolised the sun. So, it's likely that the Celtic cross was originally a Pagan sun or moon representation, later used by the Romans in order to try to convert the Pagans of Britain to Christianity. According to Irish legend, St Patrick created the cross by drawing a circle around a Latin cross to represent the Pagan moon goddess. But to Irish Catholics, the circle can represent Christ's halo, or as eternity and the endlessness of God's love

Meaning of the Triskele:

The Triskele, also called the spiral of life, the triple spiral and the triple goddess, is three equal spirals radiating from a common center.

It is an ancient symbol with versions that have been found in a number of cultures around the world.

The Celtic Triskele was found in the remnants of an ancient temple from the Bronze Age in Ireland. It is believed that it evolved from the triskellian, a symbol wich looks like three legs running.

The triskele came to be associated with the Triple Goddess (maiden, mother, crone) in pre-Christian times and has been found in illuminated manuscripts created by monks transcribing early Christian texts.

Leprechaun:

A Leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in  a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief. 

The Leprechauns spend all their time busily making shoes, and store away all their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

If ever captured by a human, the Leprechaun has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for their release.

Popular depiction shows the Leprechaun as being no taller than a small child, with a beard and hat.

A room with a view.◕‿◕

This article was written by Julian Earwaker, for the magazine Speak Up.

In the Pacific Northwest region of the USA, there are trees everywhere. On the edge of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest a huge cedar tree rises tall above a clear stream and in its branches is a large wooden tree house.

Bill Compher has always loved the mountains, so when he had the chanche to buy a plot of land, he couldn't resist.

Without electricity, his mountain hideaway was the perfect place to raise a family.

One day he had the idea of building a tree house:a comfortable home, 16 metres above the ground.

10 years ago he decided to open it as a bed and breakfast. Today's visitors have to access at the house easily:there's a five-storey staircase, complete with a special room with a view.

I like treehouses, so I think that the Cedar Creek Treehouse is a great idea, but also difficult because Bill Compher had to live for a period without electricity.

He had a nice idea to open it as a bed and breakfast, with a special room with a view, where you can see also stars, in the night.