{"id":27521,"date":"2023-02-08T22:58:32","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T03:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=27521"},"modified":"2023-02-08T22:58:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T03:58:33","slug":"outabout-208","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=27521","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s happening! Yes, I do mean that the festivities have already started leading up to the big day that of course is Saint Patrick\u2019s Day<\/strong> on Friday March 17th. But, before we get there we have one of the most romantic days of the year and that is Valentine\u2019s Day<\/strong>, also called\u00a0Saint Valentine\u2019s Day\u00a0or the\u00a0Feast of Saint Valentine, that is celebrated annually on February 14th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It originated as a Christian\u00a0feast day\u00a0honoring one or two early\u00a0Christian martyrs\u00a0named\u00a0Saint Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Valentine\u2019s Day is not a public holiday in any country, although it is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries when notions of\u00a0courtly love\u00a0flourished, apparently by association with the \u201clovebirds\u201d of early spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards, known as \u201cvalentines\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valentine\u2019s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged\u00a0Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards
The rise of Internet popularity at the turn of the millennium is creating new traditions. Every year millions of people use digital means of creating and sending Valentine\u2019s Day greeting messages such as\u00a0e-cards, love coupons or printable greeting cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valentine\u2019s Day is considered by some to be a\u00a0Hallmark holiday\u00a0due to its commercialization. Wishing you all a very happy Saint Valentine\u2019s Day and now that you\u2019ve got all that, don\u2019t forget my card, just kidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I dropped in to the Pig\u2019n\u2019Whistle on 36th Street<\/strong> just off Seventh Avenue in Manhattan and it was closed for a very good reason and what was it? They were redoing the place, isn\u2019t that great news rather than the negative news we hear all the time? I can tell you this, the owners of this establishment who also have a few more establishments are highly professional in the hospitality business in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did mention to you before about the Saint Patrick\u2019s Day Foundation Inc.\u2019s Annual Gala Dinner<\/strong> that you should not miss as they will be honoring the Grand Marshal of the Parade Kevin J. Conway<\/strong>. The mission of the St. Patrick\u2019s Day Foundation is to support the New York City\u00a0St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade<\/strong> and related activities, and to celebrate the contributions\u00a0of the Irish to American society, with student scholarships, educational\u00a0initiatives, publications and an ambitious year-round program of social and\u00a0culture events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gala will be held on Wednesday, March 15 at The Sheraton Hotel<\/strong> in Midtown (811 Seventh Avenue at West 53rd Street) with a cocktail hour starting at 6.30 pm. The event will feature a special musical performance by The Eileen Ivers Band<\/strong>. For additional information email Gala@StPatricksDayFoundation.Org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Irish Family History Forum<\/strong> is once again hosting a new show\u2013and\u2013tell: \u201cAfter a pandemic-induced hiatus of three years, our genealogy show-and-tell will return on February 18th. Forum members will display and speak about family heirlooms, artifacts, letters, photos, or other objects of interest. Others will share research stories, genealogical discoveries and famous or infamous ancestors.\u201d The event will be held at Bethpage Public Library<\/strong> (47 Powell Avenue in Bethpage) with the event starting at 10 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This just came to me as reminder that The Cork Association\u2019s Annual Dinner Dance<\/strong> will be held at Antun\u2019s <\/strong>(96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village) on Saturday March 4th This year\u2019s honorees are Cork Man of The Year Jim O\u2019Neill<\/strong> from Oakdale, Long Island, Cork Woman of The Year from Youghal Co Cork, Michelle McCarthy<\/strong>, and the Frank Carvell award will be awarded to Tom Murphy<\/strong>. More details to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again. <\/p>\n

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