Celebrations Here In Ireland

Here in Ireland we have lots of celebrations. While being here I celebrate Christmas when they do and I have learned to say Merry Christmas in irish which is "Null-ig hunna ditsh". We celebrate christmas on December 8th instead of when we celebrate it in Italy which is December 24 throught January 6th. When we celebrate Christmas we do what every other family in the world who celebrates christmas does. We open gifts, read the Christmas story, and have a family dinner. It is a fun family experience, but it is very weird to celebrate it so early. You get use to it after a while though. There is a celebration called St. Stephens Day which is celebrated the day after Christmas and they honor a man who was the leader of a revolt against local soldiers. Here in Ireland people also celebrate Easter because of the goddess of spring "Anglo-Saxon". It is a non pagan festival and people belive the eggs symbolize fertility. My family does not celebrate this because we do not believe as they do. There is also Saint Patricks Day which is someone they honor because he was considered to be the first one to bring christianity to Ireland. There is lots of parade's and parties on this day and everyone wears green which is the traditional color of Ireland. They also celebrate Valentines Day which is when they honor St. Valentine who is considered the "Patron Saint of Lovers" and this love is very important to the Irish. People give out their heart candies and flowers to their loved ones to show that they love them.