Tuesday 17 March 2009

17 March - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Gemstone of the Month


Bloodstone



Flower of the Month: Daffodil



First of all Nomanda would like to thank all our new readers! We have been getting more and more of you every day and we really appreciate you! If you are enjoying Nomanda’s blog please pass it on to your friends. And if you would like to make a comment or get your own special mention on your own special day just send us the details through the comments section and we’ll make sure we don’t forget you!

Nomanda’s Happy Special Day blog is a celebration of events and anniversaries that have touched our lives. If today is your special day join us in looking at a few other events that have occurred on your day. Enjoy!



Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Today his festival is celebrated all over the world. Groups of happy Irish and “locals” will be out to enjoy this festival.


Whether as a result of persecution from the Brits or just indulging their natural desires to travel the Irish have established communities all over the world taking their customs and celebrations with them. There is hardly a town or city in the world that hasn’t got an Irish pub somewhere in town celebrating all things Irish. Here you will find traditional Irish stouts and beers as well as traditional Irish food.


Today the Irish population as well as lovers of all things Irish will be seen sporting the shamrock, a small clover like plant, and having an all day party enjoying a glass or two of Guinness or Murphy’s or for the beer drinkers a glass or two of Caffry’s!


So how did all this come about?

Saint Patrick (c.389 – c.461) is reputed as being the person responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland and in the process driving out all the snakes from Ireland. This latter fact is probably symbolic and refers to putting an end to pagan practices in Ireland. Certainly there are no snakes in Ireland now but in fact there probably never have been!

Anyway, get out the green and gold, get down to your local Irish pub and join in the happy atmosphere of Irish singing and dancing and celebrate this special day with your Irish friends. The Irish are great at parties!



Whilst you are enjoying your Irish celebrations and tucking in to a few delicacies spare a thought for the guy, Henry Jones, a Bristol baker who patented self raising flour on this day in 1845. His new flour was so successful that he eventually ended up being appointed purveyor of flour and biscuits to Queen Victoria.



Another Englishman was on the patenting trail on the same day in 1845, one Stephen Perry from London, who patented the rubber band. Nomanda is not much of a pastry chef but I do know that elasticity is important in pastry and that it hasn’t got to be too rubbery!



We have a couple of great Irish singers who will be celebrating their birthdays on St Patrick’s Day. The first is Caroline Corr (1973) from the Corrs and here is one of Nomanda’s favourites from them!





And our final Irish birthday celebrity is Stephen Gately (1976) from the group Boyzone and here is one of our favourites from them!






Happy Special Day to one and all!!




If you know someone who is celebrating their birthday, anniversary or a special day today or sometime soon why not send them a nice e-card so they get it as soon as they log on! Even better, why not send this page to your friend!
Don’t know what to get for a present? Think about what your special person enjoys doing and the things they like.


For Girls, I know that flowers and chocolates are a bit cliché but nevertheless they always seem to work! Of course, if your budget stretches that far, jewellery, watches, perfume and fashion items are always appreciated!

For Boys, all boys like toys! It’s just as they get older the toys get more expensive. So gadgets and gimmicky things work. Again, if you have the budget then car accessories, sporting equipment and clothes, and man type jewellery like watches and gold chains will go down very well!

And, if all else fails, you could always send them a gift voucher and they can choose whatever they want!

If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event today I hope you got lots of cards and presents and that there is someone special in your life who will make this day a very happy and special day for you.



Happy celebrations to you from the Happy Special Day Blog!!

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