Halloween a.k.a. Samhain
Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, has an interesting history. All Hallows’ Day is All Saints” Day (hallowed meaning holy) and is now November 1st. Why it was moved from its original May 13th date is lost...
View ArticleHappy New Year and Hogmanay
American traditions surrounding New Year’s Eve and Day are limited and not from the depths of history. Getting together with party hats and champagne while watching the glittering ball descend in...
View ArticleThe Tour Bus Will Wait: Across Ireland in an 8-Passenger Van
This first appeared as a guest blog on Rosemary Adkins’ great website, www.ExtraordinaryIreland.com. Since Noelle is going to Ireland this month, it seemed appropriate to re-post it here. When we...
View ArticleRobert Burns Immortal Memory
Every year, Scots and those who like things Scottish gather on or about January 25th to honor Scotland’s unofficial national poet, and enjoy a fine dinner and copious drink (hopefully single-malt...
View ArticleGround Hog Day . . . Or Is It Imbolc?
Punxsutawney Phil has spoken: it will be an early spring in 2013. Of course, few people take Punxsutawney Phil Sowerby, the groundhog from Punxsutawney, PA, as an actual weather guru, even though he...
View ArticleSt. Patrick’s Day, Green Beer and Blue Mead
St. Patrick’s Day, originally a feast day of the Catholic church, has become a major American drunken celebration. Before I get into the down and dirty, let me assure you that St. Patrick never drank...
View ArticleIrish Whiskey and Just a Wee Dram of Scotch Whisky
Some more observant readers will notice “Irish whiskey” and “Scotch whisky.” This was no typo. Irish and Americans distill whiskey, but the Scots distill whisky. Since both words come from the...
View ArticleMay Day or Beltane
In the ancient Celtic world there were four fire festivals: Samhain (the Celtic new year on October 31-November 1 that gave birth to Halloween) , Imbolc (the beginning of Celtic spring on January...
View ArticleOff to the TT Races
While Americans are preparing for Memorial Day remembrances and cook-outs, something else is happening on the Isle of Man this weekend. Saturday, the 25th of May is the first practice day this year...
View ArticleHappy 4th of July, But Now On To Tynwald Day!
After doing my bit for God, country and the Celtic Society by marching in the Independence Day parade in Grass Valley this morning (thankfully finishing before the heat hit in force), I am enjoying the...
View ArticleManx Flower Festival
This July, the Isle of Man held it’s annual Flower Festival. For an idea of what one is like, click here. Although it is a nice event, I was never a part of the decorating of the churches for the …...
View ArticleDancing at Lughnasa
If you’re looking for a commentary on the Meryl Streep and Michael Gambon movie, sorry. This is about the Gaelic fire festival, Lughnasa. Notice it is Gaelic, not Celtic. Although the Gaels are...
View ArticleToast to the Lassies and Toast to the Laddies
I am an unabashed traditionalist. I love having traditions and following traditions. That includes personal ones like having oatmeal (porridge) and tea for breakfast, doing my New York times crossword...
View ArticleBad Irish Jokes
I love a good joke. However, ethic jokes have a very bad rep, often for good reason If a joke is meant to demean or insult, it is not funny. But if it is meant to poke fun with no … Continue reading...
View ArticleCeltic Kingdom of Dal Riata
This post from RCherry. My next book, Three Legs of the Cauldron, will be out by Christmas. It is a 6th century Celtic saga of Northeastern Ireland and Western Scotland, the kingdom of Dal Riata....
View ArticleSuddenly Royal
This post from RCherry. When my wife told me she’d recorded a new program on the grossly misnamed The Learning Channel (TLC) entitled Suddenly Royal about an American who is trying to claim his title...
View ArticleKing of Mann
This post from RCherry. Since my last entry, I watched the latest Suddenly Royal episode and had to fire another salvo. His Royal Buffooness has kept up the pace, I’ll say that. First he smokes the...
View ArticleSuddenly Royal, or Suddenly Stupid
This post from RCherry. Well, here we go again. In the latest episode, “King” David, or Drew, talked many times about wanting to move to the Isle of Man permanently and getting a job driving taxi...
View ArticleScottish Games
This post from RCherry. Over Memorial Day weekend, I will be attending the United Scottish Society’s Scottish games in Costa Mesa, CA, known as Scottish Fest, (click here for info) selling my Celtic...
View ArticleScottish Games
This post from RCherry. Over Memorial Day weekend, I will be attending the United Scottish Society’s Scottish games in Costa Mesa, CA, known as Scottish Fest, (click here for info) selling my Celtic...
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