Irish Songbook: The Wren Song

Happy St. Stephen's Day Everyone a.k.a Boxing Day!

Today is what the Irish call: Lá Fhéile Stiofán or Lá an Dreoilín, which translates into English as "The Wren Day" or "Day of the Wren". It has to do with some Irish legends linking Jesus and the wren... something religious anyway.

But anywho, there is a popular children's rhyme that goes along with St. Stephen's Day and I thought I'd share it with all of you! It was made popular by the Irish group, The Clancy Brothers.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

A Searcher's Cookbook - Not-so-Homemade, Homemade Mince Pies

A Searcher's Cookbook


Mince Pies! 

It's Christmas baking time! Actually, it's LATE MINUTE Christmas baking time!

Sure, there are still a few days left to bake, but who has time to properly bake some Christmas treats without too much fuss? 

Well, today I will walk you through how to make your very own homemade mince pies... 

but just between me and you, they aren't "entirely" homemade. 

[At the end of the post you can find a mincemeat filling recipe for those wanting to make their own!]

Now, the mince pie. It's a UK/Irish tradition! During the holiday season, you see wee mince pies everywhere you go! You can't get away from them! So, I decided to do a little research into this classic Christmas treat, and even tried to make my own! All you need to know, after the jump!

if music be the food of love play on - Christy Moore - Ride On

Here's a Christy Moore tune for you on this raining Wednesday.


Christy Moore is a (extremely) popular Irish musician, so don't be surprised if I post more of him in the future. But for now, here's him playing a classic song "Ride On"by Jimmy MacCarthy. MacCarthy once worked as an apprentice jockey, and once explained how out on the gallops, older horses would lead the younger horses in training. However, when the younger horses developed, the jockeys needed the horses to race faster and would shout "ride on". If you listen to the lyrics, you'll see how MacCarthy's background working with jockeys may have influenced this classic.

Another fun fact: Moore has been quoted as saying that he plays this song in order to "quiet down" his audience when they get to rowdy.


Enjoy :)

Keep Smilin'

M.

What's that mean? - Craic [Irish]

CRAIC

[Pronounced: crack] 

Definition: 

Fun

Origins: 

Irish Gaelic

but.. the Irish Gaelic took it from the Scots language who would use the spelling "crack". 

Like anything that's to do with anything in Ireland, it's a bit complicated... 

Apparently there are some English folks who don't like that the Irish adopted their own spelling of the word.
 Another interesting fact, the Gaelic language doesn't use the letter "k". This may be another reason for the change. I'm not a linguist so I don't want to get into it too much... but lets just say, it's a relatively "new" word used in Ireland, though you wouldn't think it. The Irish use the word craic like they drink their Guinness, which is all the time. 

'Craic' used in a Sentence: 

Irish Fella #1: "What's the craic?

Irish Fella #2: "The craic is good" 

Irish guy is at a party, he wants his mates there, but they are a bit reluctant. 

In order to persuade them he says: 

"Come on mates, you gotta get down here, the craic is ninety"
[craic is ninety = pretty awesome] 

Aren't words fun? 

Keep Smilin', 

M. 

O Statue, Why art Thou? - 'Sheep on the Road'

'Sheep on a the Road'

Open plaza in front of Waterfront Hall, Belfast

Reflects history of the Lanyon Place site, previously the largest sheep and cattle site in Belfast

Artist: Deborah Brown 

The artist was inspired by childhood visits to and the landscape of Cushendun. She carefully observed the people and animals of the countryside. 

Why everyone should journal...

***

Everyman must tell his own tale

C.S Lewis

***

I love journaling. I love writing things down no matter how mundane the thought may seem. There's nothing like sitting in a cafe, opening up your favourite journal and taking out your trusty pen, and writing. It truly is a form of therapy, and I suggest you all try it. I mean, even C.S Lewis says you should tell your own tale... and he was really smart.

Now, I know some of you are probably thinking "um, Monica, that's stupid, journaling is dump, it's for girls, I don't need to journal"... etc.. etc. But little do you know, journalling can be one of the best ways to free calm and relaxed. You'd be surprised at how creative you really are if you just allow yourself to put pen to paper. 

I remember way back when being forced to "journal" in high school, and then later in University.. etc. It always felt like a huge waste of time. I'm pretty sure the fact that I was being graded on my journaling, and my teacher was going to read all my thoughts made me really detest the activity. I remember students would scramble to write journal entries the night before it was all due and wondering what they were "supposed" to write. I hated that. I hated that people felt that they were "supposed" to write something. Personally, I feel that journalling should be whatever you want it to be, and in any form that you want it to be. Writing, drawing, doodling, anything! 

It wasn't until May 2010 when my boyfriend bought me my first journal for my birthday that I really fell in love with the art of writing things down. Obviously, like every little girl, I had a diary. I wrote about all the boys I liked, all the friends I hated, or liked, and how I didn't like my parents because I didn't get a barbie for Christmas. You know, the usual. But it was never about anything to do with my personal development. Oh, that's another thing. Journalling is a great way to track your own personal development. But I'll get back to that. 

So, when I received my first proper journal I was in love. It was a blueish greenish paperblanks journal with a nice design on the front. It came with a little magnet clip to hold it together. The paper was nice and smooth, and my pen would glide effortlessly across the page. It was wonderful! He gave me this journal in order to have a place for all my "random" thoughts, ideas and lists while I was setting up my new adventure in Toronto. 

That journal became my saving grace. I filled it to the brim with my happenings of day to day events around the city, with lists of shows I wanted to see, with quotes I wanted to remember. There are stickers from shows, and notes from friends. Each time I wrote something down I felt happy, and motivated. I felt that I was making progress. That's where the tracking of your personal development comes in. I was able to see how my life was changing with the turn of a page. 

Once I filled that journal, I quickly moved onto the next. Thankfully that brand of journals made the same one in different colours, so this time I went with red. Now that journal has got some serious business going on inside. That journal was during my "transition" phase of coping with the fact that I was moving away from Toronto. It's filled with thoughts about moving, and my plan on how to fully enjoy the city. 

When I look back at the two journals, I read two very different stories coming from the same core. I see where I was, and where I want to be. 

Now I have another journal. Same make, but now it's green. Green for Ireland. It's slowly catching up to its predecessors, but it defiantly has a different feel to it. I like that. 

What's great about having these lovely diaries is how I can now reference them. I can go back to my first one and think "hm, I remember being at this cafe and having this one idea, but what was the quote that sparked that again", and find it in a pinch. It's brilliant. 

Anyway, I truly hope that in some way I have inspired you to start writing things down. I honestly think you should go out, buy yourself a beautiful book, and start writing in it. Just anything. Even if you just start writing your grocery list. Write the date you started it, a wee quote for inspiration, a note to yourself, and then... surprise yourself. I was told to "surprise myself" by a pretty handsome Irish fella, and well... I did... in more ways than one, and it worked. :) 

Keep Smilin', 

M. 

O Statue, Why Art Thou? - 'Barrel Man'

'Barrel Man' 

Cafe Terrace of Waterfront Hall, Belfast 

This statue was commissioned by Bass Ireland in 1997. 

The statue celebrates 100 years of brewing beer in Ireland

Searching for Home

***

I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstair indoor silences, 

attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, 

and the noise of wind under the tiles. 

Also, of endless books. 

- C.S Lewis 

***

Oh Mr. C.S Lewis. 

He has this funny way of always making me feel connected with the world around me. He makes me feel grounded, and capable of anything my wee heart desires. 

The above quote is from his memoir Surprised by Joy. It's one of my favourite excerpts from the book. I feel that it really incapsulates why C.S Lewis wrote the stories he did and why he became a writer. 

Lewis was born in Belfast, though most of his teenage years and beyond seemed to have been spent in England. But, when you read his book you can really feel the nostalgia he held for Belfast and Co.Down, Ireland. He loved his home country. He loved home, but spent most of his life away from the country that inspired so much of his writing.  

The Mourne Mountains, thought to have inspired The Chronicles of Naria

***

As for the Earth, the country I grew up in had everything to encourage a romantic bend, 

had indeed done so ever since I first looked at the unattainable Green Hills through the nursery window...my main haunt was the Holywood Hills

- Excerpt from Surprised by Joy

***

Now, today's post isn't about C.S Lewis. I'll save that for another day, but instead it's about home. Where home is, and how one finds home.

It's Christmas time in the City...

***

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, 
dressed in holiday style, 
in the air there's a feeling of Christmas 
***

Well folks, it's Christmas time! You know what that means?

It's time for the Belfast Continental Christmas Market! 

Open between November 19 and December 19th, this market really brings the Christmas spirit to Belfast! Held on the grounds of Belfast City Hall, this market bring together goodies and treats from all corners of the world! Many countries are represented from Germany to Italy, Morocco to China! 

I visited the market on one particular evening, and decided to take you guys on a small tour. 

So please enjoy this wee video, 

Christmas is almost here! 

Keep Smilin! 

It's almost Christmas!

M.

The Irish Songbook - Rattlin' Bog

***

Dance first, think later. It's the natural order. 

- Samuel Beckett 

***

It's time for a sing-along folks!
An Irish sing-along!

When I first visited Ireland with my dear friend Catherine in February of 2010, we were introduced to a fun Irish sing-along called "Rattlin' Bog". We were on a tour bus headed for the Wicklow Mountains, and Steve, our tour guide, taught us this tune - with actions!

Here's a wee home video that I made during our sing-along with Steve. The camera might be shaky, and it's not the best quality, but it'll give you a glimpse into how fun the Irish can be with their sing-alongs!

Today's Find: Washing Up Liquid

Make sure to wash up before dinner kids! 

or wait... after dinner?

One of the first differences I noticed between North Americans and the Irish when I first moved was the term used for dish soap. 

What else could they possibly call it you ask?: 

Washing-Up Liquid

I know right?! What the heck is washing-up liquid? What are we washing up exactly? Are we taking a bath? Washing up the dog?!?

Today's Find: The Sausage Roll

Behold... 

The Sausage Roll 

If there's one thing I've noticed about Irish cuisine, putting aside their love for fish & chips, they adore sausage rolls. It's a comfort food for grown ups and children alike! 

The sausage roll seems to have its origin in the United Kingdom, but is popular in many countries, including Ireland and apparently Australia, New Zealand, Belgium and Canada, just to name a few! Who knew!?

 However, the type of sausage roll you'd find back home in Canada is more of a  'pigs in a blanket' and smaller in size, like a cocktail sausage. Correct me if I'm wrong, the dough used in something like a 'pig in a blanket' is different as well. 

A sausage roll in the UK and Ireland is made with puff pastry wrapped around sausage meat. They can be 12inches long! wow... this post suddenly became highly inappropriate... but I'm talking about sausage rolls! I can't get around it! 

You can find sausage rolls everywhere here. Bakeries, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, shops... just everywhere. 

So that's today's find! 

Eat up! 

Keep Smilin', 

M. 

Here is a recipe I've found online so you can make your own! 

Jamie Oliver's Sausage Rolls 

3 Months on the Emerald Isle!

***

To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance

- Oscar Wilde 

***

I love quotes. Just love them. My journal is filled to the brim with quotes, and lately I have been filling it with tons of Irish quotes by Oscar Wilde, C.S Lewis, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. So don't be surprised if in the next little while I shall be sharing tons of wise words from those fellas :) 

I stumbled upon the above mentioned quote by Wilde around the time I arrived in Ireland three months ago. It really stuck with me. 

I'm sure I'm not alone in the fact that we have all had a moment in our lives when we've cared a great deal about what others think about us. We care about how others perceive us, or if they like the way we look. Humans are interesting creatures don't you think? I suppose animals are the same. Have you ever watched Planet Earth? I'm always reminded of the male birds who groom themselves and prepare their mating area in hopes that a female bird will come along and "join"him. 

I suppose we aren't the only ones. However, I still feel that, as a society, we put a lot of pressure on one another to 'impress' those around us. But unlike the birds, we have the ability to know we don't have to conform. 

So much pressure don't you think? It's terrible.

Irish History... kinda...

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You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. 
- Irish Proverb


***

It's Irish History lesson time! 

Every great adventure should start with understanding the people and the very land you are going to explore. So, I have taken it upon myself to dig deep into Ireland's history in order to produce a proper insight into how Ireland came to be the Emerald Isle as we know it!

But here's the problem, Irish history is kind of... well... convoluted, and long...very long. I mean, 8000BC long. Now, it's still important to look into their history, and try to get a grasp on their 'past', but since I'm not an historian, and don't want to bare the weight of teaching of all you the ins and outs of Irish History... here's my version, with guidance from my lovely Irish fella. I've tried to include the important stuff! If anything is wrong, I blame the internet, and him. shh.

The Prologue

***

"The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life. To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair." - The Moviegoer, Walker Percy. 

***

After waiting for a year and half, I have finally arrived on the Emerald Isle.

Why did I move all the way from the comforts of Canada to the Emerald Isle you ask?

For a boy.

Yup, a boy. An Irish boy. An Irish boy that I met in Paris 9 years ago when we were both awkward sixteen year olds. Mind you, we didn't start dating 9 years ago, but that's all for another story...

Now I'm living in Ireland and searching. Searching for what? I'm not to sure. But I do know that while I'm searching for something in this new life of mine, I'd love for all of you to tag along.

I want to really delve into Irish life and the world around me. I want to discover everything and anything. I want to eat everything and anything! 

Care to join me on this adventure?

I'll be sharing my experiences, and fun things about Ireland, attaching video diaries here and there, even cooking a bit while I'm at it! If I travel somewhere outside of Ireland, I'll try to share that too! 

But for now I shall leave you with a quote by a famous Belfastian, C.S Lewis:

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind"

Keep Smilin',

M.