John Lennon marries Yoko Ono

 

Fifty-one years ago today, John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married in Gibraltar: it was 20 March 1969.  After a 10-minute ceremony, the two flew to Amsterdam and set up a "bed-in" as a call for peace in the presidential suite of the Hilton hotel. International media outlets were invited to cover the event, which lasted seven days.

Father's Day

 Italy celebrates Father’s Day on Saint Joseph’s Day, which falls on 19 March. This is unlike in many countries that celebrate Father’s Day in June

In US and UK too, Father's Day festival is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and therefore the date of the festival is never fixed. People celebrate the occasion by honoring their father and expressing affection for them by presenting popular gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates and neckties. Little children often give handmade gifts to their dad.

St. Patrick's Day

 Every 17 March, Irish people all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in honour of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

When St. Patrick was born, his name actually was not Patrick but Maewyn.

Maewyn spent six years as a slave in Ireland, but then he escaped and went to Gaul in France where he studied in a monastery for 12 years. Finally, Maewyn became a bishop and adopted the Christian name Patricius .

Later Patrick decided to go back to Ireland and converted Irish pagans to Christianity.

Patrick died on 17 March 461. That day now is a national holiday in Ireland and there are parades in the streets and music everywhere. Not only in Ireland – Irish emigrants took this tradition all over the world.

Mother's Day

 

British Mother's Day is TODAY on Sunday, March 14 2021.

 

Known by its religious name, Mothering Sunday, it has become more commercialised over the years.

In the UK, the date is linked to Easter, which is different each year as it is determined by the lunar calendar.

 

The UK's Mother's Day always falls on the fourth Sunday during the period of Lent, when people typically give up things like certain foods or bad habits for the days leading up to Easter.

James Joyce

James Joyce, one of the greatest Irish novelists, was born on February 2nd, 1882.

Joyce’s birthday is also Candlemas Day and Ground Hog Day, making his birthday part religious festival, part popular festival. Due to these coincidences, Joyce considered his birthday to be an auspicious day, and he often contrived to make it particularly special.

From New Amsterdam to New York

2nd February 1665: British forces capture New Amsterdam, the centre of the Dutch colony in North America. The trading settlement on the island of Manhattan is to be renamed New York in honour of the Duke of York, its new governor

Robert Burns

 Jan. 25 is the day when people in Scotland celebrate Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Burns Night is a great occasion when many dinners dedicated to his memory are held Highlights of any Robbie Burns festival often include the bagpipes, Scotsmen in kilts and the reading of Burns' poem, "To A Haggis." But no Robbie Burns' feast would be complete without the dish of choice - haggis.