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Gestalting YOUR Day

Saint Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day

This may indeed be a strange topic for a Newsletter.

Still, March in Rhode Island, where I live, is one big block party in one way or another from March 1st right through March 31st in honor of these highly honored Saints. Officially, St. Patrick, the Irish Saint, is celebrated on the 17th of March and St. Joseph, the Italian Saint, on March 19th. It is important to realize that the largest ethnic group in Rhode Island is Irish, the second in line is Italian.

So, who is St. Patrick? He reportedly lived from 387 - 493 AD. Story goes that he was captured as a youth by the Irish from England and enslaved in Ireland but escaped later and returned home. There he entered the church and returned to Ireland as Bishop. Officially, he was elevated to be the Patron Saint of Ireland in the 9th Century. Of course, his life is one of amazing feats, most taking mythical proportions, few if any are based on reality. Nevertheless he lives on in the hearts of many Irish here and abroad. And, the Irish enjoy celebrations – They know how to have a good time dancing, singing, drinking, parading, drinking, telling stories, drinking, making jokes, drinking, sometimes raucous but all good, clean family fun. During March everybody in Rhode Island loves to be Irish. There is something irrepressible, joyous, loving the whole wide world for being alive and Irish even if you aren’t. It’s not strange that they can express humor and fun as they do and live so zestfully. After all Irish history has been a tragic one. Often trauma, personal and national, brings out an organic surge of energy for living life gloriously no matter what.

What living examples they are to everyone how to make the most of what is. Congratulations all you Irish and thanks for sharing yourselves with us.

St. Joseph, the Italian Saint, is, of course, the adoptive (?) Father of Jesus, marrying Mary, the virgin, when she was told by an angel that she was carrying the child of God. How very brave of Joseph, especially at a time when pregnant women, girls, were stoned to death unless they were betrothed when pregnant. He was indeed an exemplary servant of God and husband as he undertook to share the life of joy and pain with Mary and his special son Jesus. It is somewhat strange, that so very little is known of Joseph other than he was a carpenter, a good foster father to Jesus and a good spouse to Mary. Little is known about his life and death; it is believed however, that Mary was alone during the adult life of Jesus. The last reference to Joseph in the life of Jesus is at the temple when Jesus was 12 years old. St. Joseph is considered the Patron Saint of the Catholic Church and of Workers, carpenters specifically.

Italians have a magnificent parade in the Italian section known across America as Federal hills. Additionally there are outside booths offering specialties from various regions of Italy; a truly culinary experience. As Federal Hills exemplifies, Italians treasure and value having joyous family dinners; they prize hosting lavish meals with tables laden with world-renowned Italian foods, and lots of people enjoying the meal with wine, laughter, and sharing love. Mothers are dominant in the households and responsible for cooking. On St. Joseph’s Day, the special Italian desserts are Zeppoli, a yeast doe pastry fried in deep fat and drizzled with honey or filled with Whipped cream.

While Italians observe St. Joseph in a less elaborate way, satisfying their display of affection mostly with church parades and sharing their scrumptious foods, their devotion to the Saint is nevertheless deeply anchored in the Italian heritage.

So what about you?

During this month-long celebration of joy, and love for family practiced by both Irish and Italians, we are reminded what really matters in life - be happy and fulfilled being together, forget about troubles, live and love and enjoy the simple things that cost nothing. What wonderful stress removers if one needs an additional excuse.

Perhaps, if you are neither Irish nor Italian and are swept up by the fun, you can:

• Have a family or friends gathering just for the heck of it;
• Find something in your heritage that you value and make a special effort to share the stories and customs with friends;
• Ask still living family members to share stories and special events from their country of origin;
• Express appreciation to them for passing on their heritage to you for you are the continuation of that heritage;
• Finally be proud of the rich cultural diversity of life in America; it is who you/we are.

“May the Road rise up to meet you;
May the wind be always at your back;
May the sun shine warmly upon your face
and the rain fall soft upon your fields 
And, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palms of his hands.”

Irish poem

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