A very funny, entertaining, and informative video on the history of St. Patrick.

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An Irish Blessing 

May you always have work for your hands to do.  May your pockets hold always a coin or two.  May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.  May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.  May the hand of a friend always be near you.  And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer yo.

Carnival of Venice

 The Carnival of Venice (Carnevale Di Venezia in Italian) was first recorded in 1268.

 

*History of Venice Carnival

The word “Carnival” comes from the Italian «carnovale», which originates from the Latin words “caro” (meat) and “vale” (farewell), literally "Farewell to meat" or from the carnem (meat) + levare (lighten or raise), literally "to remove the meat" or "stop eating meat".

The history of the Venice Carnival tradition began after 1162. The Republic defeated Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in that year, and began a tradition of slaughtering a bull and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Tuesday to commemorate the victory. This celebration gradually grew and 1268 dates the first document mentioning the use of masks.

The eighteenth century was the heyday of Carnival. Venice's decline in power was accompanied by a conspicuous consumption of pleasure. Rich young nobles doing the European "Grand Tour" made sure these pleasures were theirs as well. The paintings of Francesco Guardi and the diaries of Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) are the best-known symbols of the age - the languid spirit of carnival an ever-present implication.

Carnival's significance declined gradually through to the 1930s, when Mussolini banned it. In 1979, a group of Venetians and lovers of Venice decided to revive the tradition. Within a few years, the image of the masked reveller had become a worldwide icon of Venice in winter.