SOURCE: http://online-english-lessons.eu/wordpress/2011/03/st-patricks-day/
St Patrick's Day is on March 17th and it is the national day of Ireland. It is a secular celebration, and an important religious festival. It is holy day of obligations for Roman Catholics in Ireland, as well as a religious celebration for the Anglican Church of Ireland.
St Patrick's Day has been an official public holiday since 1903.
St Patrick
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He lived from approximately 387 – 460AD.
It is said he was born in Wales to a wealthy family, but he was kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teenager and held as a slave in Ireland for six years. He worked as a shepherd for those six years and during that time his faith as a Christian became very important to him.
St Patrick escaped his life of slavery by stowing away on a boat to Britain. He dreamt that he should return to Ireland as a missionary and preach Christianity so he studied to be a priest.
According to legend, St Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland but it is interpreted metaphorically as leading pagan traditions out of Ireland.
He is buried at Down Cathedral, County Down, Ireland and many people across the world make the pilgrimage to his grave.
St Patrick's Day celebrations
Many people wear green and in some cities the rivers and streams are dyed green. Some pubs even serve green beer!
The "wearing of the green" means wearing a shamrock. The shamrock is the national flower of Ireland and St Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans in Ireland.
St Patrick's Festival
The first St Patrick's Festival was held on the 17th March 1996. Every year, Irish culture is showcased with parades, music, film, poetry, fireworks, treasure hunts and other special events.
Irish Language
Irish and English are both official languages in Ireland.
Irish is an official language of the European Union.
The Irish Republic is officially bilingual, and English and Irish appear widely on signs, public buildings, and official forms and documents
galore – plenty, a lot. From go leor, Irish for plenty.
phoney – (from fáinne, ring) meaning 'fake'. The term originated from Irish immigrants in the US and referred to fake gold rings illegally marketed there.
shenanigans – deception or trickery
Tory - (from tóraí) outlaw, robber
(check more terms on the above link).
acting the maggot - in a mischeivous mood, trying to get others to laugh at you
crack – fun
the life of Reilly – having a very good time, often while others are not
fellas – men
wans – women
mot or ol'doll – girlfriend
a fine half – a good looking person of the opposite sex
deadly – really good
very tired - banjaxed
(check more terms on the above link).
MOLLY MALONE SONG
"Molly Malone" (also known as "Cockles and Mussels" or "In Dublin's Fair City") (Irish: Mol Ní Mhaoileoin) is a popular song, set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin City.
The Molly Malone statue in Grafton Street was unveiled by then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Ben Briscoe during the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations, declaring June 13 as Molly Malone Day.
The song tells the fictional tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plied her trade on the streets of Dublin, but who died young, of a fever. The name "Molly" originated as a familiar version of the names Mary and Margaret. While many such "Molly" Malones were born in Dublin over the centuries, no evidence connects any of them to the events in the song. Nevertheless, in 1988 the Dublin Millennium Commission endorsed claims concerning a Molly Malone who died on 13 June 1699, and proclaimed 13 June to be "Molly Malone day".
LYRICS
In Dublin's fair city, Alive, alive o!
Where the Girls are so pretty, Alive, alive o!
I first set my eyes, Crying cockles and mussels,
On sweet Molly Malone, Alive, alive o!
As she wheeled her wheel barrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow, She died of a fever
Crying cockles and mussels, And no one could save her,
Alive alive o! And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone,
But her ghost wheels her barrow,
Alive alive o! Through the streets broad and narrow
Alive alive o! Crying cockles and mussels,
Crying cockles and mussels, Alive, alive o!
Alive alive o!She was a fish monger, Happy Saint Patrick’s!
And sure it was no wonder, Let’s celebrate with a cup of GREEN tea! J
For so were her Comments/requests on our blog:
Father and Mother before, http://englishfifthyear.blogspot.com
And they both wheeled their barrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Crying cockles and mussels, Alive alive o!
Where the Girls are so pretty, Alive, alive o!
I first set my eyes, Crying cockles and mussels,
On sweet Molly Malone, Alive, alive o!
As she wheeled her wheel barrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow, She died of a fever
Crying cockles and mussels, And no one could save her,
Alive alive o! And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone,
But her ghost wheels her barrow,
Alive alive o! Through the streets broad and narrow
Alive alive o! Crying cockles and mussels,
Crying cockles and mussels, Alive, alive o!
Alive alive o!She was a fish monger, Happy Saint Patrick’s!
And sure it was no wonder, Let’s celebrate with a cup of GREEN tea! J
For so were her Comments/requests on our blog:
Father and Mother before, http://englishfifthyear.blogspot.com
And they both wheeled their barrow,
Through the streets broad and narrow,
Crying cockles and mussels, Alive alive o!
ACTIVITIES:
St. Patrick's Day Jeopardy (click here).
"Danny Boy" is one of the most representative songs of Irish culture, a ballad written by Frederic Weatherly and usually set to the tune of the "Londonderry Air”. It is most closely associated with Irish communities.
Background
The lyrics to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit "Londonderry Air" in 1913, when his sister-in-law in America sent him a copy. Ernestine Schumann-Heink made the first recording in 1915. Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist Elsie Griffin, who in turn made it one of the most popular songs in the new century.
History
Although penned by Englishman Weatherly, "Danny Boy" is considered to be an unofficial signature song and anthem, particularly by Irish Americans and Irish Canadians.
"Danny Boy" enjoys popularity as a funeral song but, as it is not liturgical, its suitability for funerals is sometimes contested. In 1928, Weatherly suggested that the second verse would provide a fitting requiem for the actress Ellen Terry.
Meaning
There are various theories as to the true meaning of "Danny Boy". Some listeners have interpreted the song to be a message from a parent to a son going off to war or leaving as part of the Irish diaspora. The 1918 version of the sheet music included alternative lyrics ("Eily Dear"), with the instructions that "when sung by a man, the words in italic should be used; the song then becomes "Eily Dear", so that "Danny Boy" is only to be sung by a lady". In spite of this, it is unclear whether this was Weatherly's intent, or simply a publisher's note; Weatherly did, however, acknowledge that "Danny Boy" was sung "all over the world by Sinn Feiners and Ulstermen alike", and noted that the song had "nothing of the rebel song in it, and no note of bloodshed".
It is considered by many as the lyrics of the National Anthem of Northern Ireland.
Lyrics
(There are a number of variations on these lyrics.)
“ | Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountainside. The summer's gone, and all the flow'rs are dying. 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide. But come ye back when summer's in the meadow Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow. 'Tis I'll be here, in sunshine or in shadow, Oh, Danny boy, oh, Danny boy, I love you so. And when ye come, and all the roses falling. If I am dead, as dead I well may be, Ye'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an "ave" there for me. And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me, And, all my grave shall warmer, sweeter be, For you will bend and tell me that you love me, And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me. Oh, Danny Boy, Oh, Danny Boy, I love you so. | ” |
(Missing third verse, very popular among Irish Diaspora in the north of England at beginning of 20th century) But should I live, and should you die for Ireland, Let not your dying thoughts be all of me; But say a prayer to God for our dear Sireland That He may hear and help to set her free And I shall take your pike and sword, my dearest And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be, To help the Cause to which your heart was nearest And you will sleep in peace until I come to thee."
Check video attached, version by Sinead O’Connor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT7PbQMurAg
LINKS FOR MORE ACTIVITIES:
WEBQUESTS:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/teenagers/topic-based-materials/festivals/festivals-webquests/festival-webquests-st-patricks-day/550903.article
VIDEOS FROM WN.COM
http://wn.com/Saint_Patrick's_Day
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Dublin (YES)
Danny Boy sang by the Muppets
VIDEOS (YouTube)
IRISH PRIDE (IMAGES OF IRELAND, TUNE: ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ozdTZjaZyE&feature=fvwrel
FOLK/ACTIVIST: BRITISH SOLDIERS GOING HOME AT LAST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObbcKbNbhHo&feature=related
TRUE IRISHMAN (COOL IMAGES OF ÉIRE AND ITS CULTURE: MUSIC, LIT. JOYCE N SO ON…)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwEgijnc4L8&feature=related
CRY OF THE CELTS (INSTRUMENTAL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmwTYcDuyks&feature=related
BRITT. POP
JOHN LENNON: LUCK OF THE IRISH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVp7lkH10Gc&feature=related
PAUL MCARTNEY: GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH! (ACTIVIST)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaO4XeHhwo8&feature=related
Thanks to all those who made that in-class St. Patrick's day event possible, it was great fun and very enriching! Special thanks to our friends from 5thA Irene and Antonio, wonderful musicians who so generously played beautiful Irish tunes for all of us! And, sure, Patricia (Happy Saint's Day!), Esteban, Ángeles and her sweet American friend, María Jesús, Gelen...all of you! Stella, your cake was delicious and so were your sweets, Mercedes...Sebastian, thanks for the eloquence of your visual joke! YOU GUYS MADE IT POSSIBLE, I AM SO POSITIVELY OVERWHELMED WITH YOUR MOTIVATION.
La Fhéile Pádraig Shona Daoibh!
Pics an videos of the event are coming...!.
An Irish blessing to all of you,
Inma.
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