My family - both sides - came to the United States from Ireland. It's never been clear whether they were running from the Great Potato Famine or something else. Or if they weren't running from something at all but running to a New World. A world that held great promise for those bold enough to set sail for distant and unknown shores.

What is known is this: we remain to this day stolidly Irish. If there's an Irish holiday to be celebrated, we have a party. Or go to church. It all depends on the tenor of the holiday.

Along with traditional Easter and Christmas holidays, we celebrate both Easter Monday and St. Stephen's Day (December 26). And we celebrate St. Patrick's Day along with the rest of the world.

This year we'll be wearing the green (shamrocks, of course), cooking up some corned beef and cabbage, and downing our fair share of Guinness. But as true Irish folk do, we'll also be paying homage to good old St. Patrick who (the folktale tells us) banished all snakes from Ireland by chasing them into the ocean.

Whether the tale is true or a bunch of blarney, Ireland is snake-free to this day. And that alone is something to celebrate!

Your "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" Gift Guru,
Linda