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July 12, Orangemen’s Day or simply The Twelfth, commemorates the victory of Prince William of Orange (a Protestant) over James II (a Catholic) at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The celebration is held by the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization. Why Orange? The colors of the Irish tricolor flag are easily recognizable: […]

This well-known rhyme outlines Celtic wedding traditions: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in your shoe”. Brides still include these items on their wedding day to ensure a successful and prosperous marriage. There are many Celtic wedding traditions and superstitions; these are just a few of them! To learn more about […]

Taking a break from “Royal Wedding Watch” here by looking at traditional love symbols of the Celtic World. It would be fun if Harry and Meghan (yes, we are on a first-name basis) incorporated some into their big day tomorrow! Probably the most recognized love symbol, the Claddagh, comes from Ireland. Scotland and Wales are […]

March 27 is International Whisk(e)y Day. Whiskey is beloved by many and has been called the greatest drink in the world, even the “Water of Life”. To the whiskey novice or non-whiskey drinker, however, it seems a bit daunting. Is there an “e” in the word whisk(e)y or not? What is the difference between bourbon, […]

They say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, which is ironic because Saint Patrick himself was not even Irish. Very little is actually known about the life of Saint Patrick, although many myths and misperceptions persist and surface this time of year. Much of what is known about Saint Patrick comes from two documents: […]

People often refer to Donegal Square as “the Irish store”. In fact, we represent many of the Celtic nations, including the small but mighty Wales! March 1 is St. David’s Day celebrating the patron saint of Wales who is said to have died on that day in the year 589. Welsh Symbolism Several symbols are […]

If you’ve never been to a Burns Night Dinner, it really is something to behold. Few dining experiences are as steeped in tradition as this. It is truly a feast for the senses. Listen to bagpipes and addresses by the host, see the guests proudly wearing their Scottish finery, and taste the delicious food and […]

Even though Pennsylvania is considered an enclave of Moravian and PA Dutch heritage – the first settlers to the Lehigh Valley and Bethlehem in particular were Scots Irish.  That first wave of emigrants pre-dates the 1742 Moravians and arrived in 1728 to build the Craig settlement in Northampton County. The pioneering spirit of the Scotch […]