Happy Beer and Clover Day!

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Today is St.Patrick’s day, a day of drinking, celebration, and having fun. As we drink to the Irish culture and follow through with the festivities, we often forget the meaning behind them, let alone the holiday.

St.Patrick’s Day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. Now here comes the shocking part: he wasn’t even Irish. Rather, he was born as a Roman Britain and kidnapped by means of slavery and brought to Ireland. For seventeen years he remained in Ireland until he escaped to a monastery in Gaul, France, and converted to Christianity. He later returned to Ireland in 432 as a missionary and abolished the Druids at Tara, eliminating their pagan rites, and making Christianity more widespread through Ireland. To also rid Ireland of its old pagan ways, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of the land. Serpents and snakes were often worshipped in paganism. By ridding Ireland of snakes, this was noted as a symbolic gesture of ending their pagan practice. He also baptized and converted many at his “Holy Wells” scattered throughout the land.

St.Patrick died in Ireland on March 17th, completing his mission, and leaving behind his two famous works: The Confessio (a spiritual autobiography) and Epistola (a denunciation of British cruelty towards Irish Christians). To this day, we celebrate his life and the Irish culture through the traditions of this particular holiday.

• We honor the three leaf clover (aka shamrock) because it’s what St.Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). At the end of St.Patrick’s Day, people “drown the shamrock” by placing the shamrock in a glass of whiskey and drinking it.

• Some people eat corned beef and cabbage, an Irish American dish. In the 19^th century, Irish immigrants were poor and could only afford this meal on St.Patrick’s Day.

• States all over America have St.Patrick’s Day parades. Originally, the holiday was celebrated as a religious day in Ireland, but as Ireland immigrants came over to America, they made it quite a celebratory event. New York held the first St.Patrick’s Day parade in 1762; by the 19^th century, the parades were a ritual.

• Some St.Patrick’s Day décor includes little mythical creatures called leprechauns. Leprechauns are a part of Irish folklore and come from the word ‘luchorpan’ which means ‘little bodies’.

What do you like to do for St.Patrick’s Day? Feel free to comment and reblog, and as always feedback and followers are welcomed.

All Irished Up

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

St. Patrick’s day is just like New Year’s: one moment you’re celebrating and drinking your weight, the next you’re waking up with a hangover and a leprechaun’s phone number. It’s the perfect time of the year to get Irished up and have fun. Here are some drinks to help you bring in the luck of the Irish.

1. The Magical Leprechaun

1 cup of champagne                
3/4 cup of lemonade
1/2 grapefruit soda
1/4 cup of sparkling orange
1 drop of food coloring

This drink is for the lightweights, like myself. Champagne is a light drink that won’t have you spilling your pot of gold after the first sip. Plus this lucky concoction is rather delicious and sweet, with a mild tartness.

2. The Irish Car Bomb

A pint glass of Guinness
A shot of Jameson

This beverage exists in every bar on this planet. It’s a popular drink that tastes like a scoop of alcoholic ice cream which makes it even more appetizing. Simply take your shot glass of Jameson, drop it into the pint glass of Guinness, and watch the most epic explosion of beverages. For those who can handle their liquor, feel free to chug this drink until you can perfectly dance an Irish jig.

3. The Luck

1 shot of agave tequila
3/4 shot of Bols blue curaco liqueur
1 1/4 shot of orange juice
1 shot of pineapple juice
1/2 shot of lemon juice

Mix it all together and you have one very lucky drink. It’s so lucky you’ll feel as if you found your pot of gold and are reveling in its riches.

4. The Shamrock Shooter

2 oz Midori melon liqueur
1/2  oz Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
1/2 Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur

Some people like to garnish this drink with a little shamrock. I like to garnish it with my lips. Knock back this shot and you’ll find yourself in good spirits and swimming in luck.

What drink gets you Irished up on St.Patrick’s Day? Feel free to leave a comment and reblog, and as always feedback and followers are welcomed. 

No Love for November

Welcome to another Monday here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Throughout the year we have months that represent iconic events. October represents Halloween, December represents Christmas, June represents when school is done, and September represents the end of summer and the start of school. However, there are months that are just fillers to make up the calendar, like November. November is the month that blocks us from the merrily bustling month of December, which is mostly known for Christmas and New Year’s.  However, there are some things about November that we should adore; after all it is a month with certain days and traditions we appreciate.

Here’s why we should embrace November:

5) Christmas Decoration Sales

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Wait a minute, that’s a month away! Oh well, that doesn’t stop department stores from having Christmas sales no sooner Halloween is finished. Places like Kohls, Target, and other locations begin their Christmas décor sales at the start of November.  These areas usually cut villages’ prices in half, offer buy one get one free ornament deals, and tons of other bargains.  Why with all these decoration sales, you could have your home decked out for Christmas just before Thanksgiving.  Some stores even have these sales before Halloween. Walmart, for example, always presents their Christmas décor alongside their Halloween costumes at the start of September. The Halloween items are marked at moderate to high prices, while Christmas decorations are featured at low prices.

4) PUMPKIN AND GINGERBREAD/PEPPERMINT EVERYTHING.

The invasion of pumpkin spice everything began in the early days of September. It started with the lattes and coffees and slowly dwindled its way into other treats such as doughnuts, ice cream, and other delicious edibles. There’s still pumpkin spice food available but as November progresses, ginger and peppermint flavored foods will come to light. It will also begin with the lattes and weave its way into other delicacies.

3) Foliage

During this time of the year, the trees turn to gold and create some of the most beautiful landscapes the season has to offer. Photographers, artists, and even writers have been inspired by the lush leaves. It’s a wonderful and inspirational time to go walking through a corridor of gorgeous foliage, to hear the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, and to go diving into a pile of oranges, yellows, and reds. Even their smell is intoxicating and sparks romance for those who happen to fall in love this season.

2) Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Staying up to 3 am is all right and is something one would do at an excellent party, college, and possibly, on a daily basis.  Staying up to 3 am just to wait for department stores’ doors to open to start Christmas shopping and save some money, is what people tend to do on Black Friday. Black Friday is the day where people tear each other apart for items right after breaking bread with their fellow man.

 

wordpress.com

Listen Grandpa I love you and whatnot but so help me God, if you want the same toaster I do at Sears tomorrow, I will obliterate you with my fists.

Some people have been trampled, murdered, or even severely injured by this all out brawl for savings. Yet it has been ingrained into our society (and possibly other societies) for many, many years. Even some movies and television shows like Jingle All the Way and The Nanny, have treated this day as the 10^th level of Hell. 

Following Black Friday’s chaos is Cyber Monday which is just like Black Friday if you don’t want to fight anyone for savings. It’s also for those who feel like dealing with the mad rush of Black Friday from their homes. However, instead of receiving a blow to the face you may receive a jammed server. When tons of people tend to be on one site at once, the site may freeze up, and break down temporarily; just like tumblr.

1)Thanksgiving

Fall is Fattening Season. October is the start of the fattening, featuring Halloween sweets. November is second in line with Thanksgiving and Christmas is the last month for gaining weight, showcasing holiday treats. But Thanksgiving takes the cake when it comes to gaining weight in the season of Fall and fat. Thanksgiving is a day where we honor two important concepts: a smorgasbord of food ranging from alcohol to stuffings and the day where we tricked Native Americans to being best friends and feasting with them only to take their land. However, it is still a holiday most of us love because it brings everyone closer together. It unites families and friends over a fantastic meal and festive activities. It allows us to break bread with those we haven’t seen in a while and to catch up with everyone. So raise your glass this Thanksgiving and dive into that turkey while associating with those you love.

What’s your favorite thing about November? Feel free to leave your thoughts below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.