Good morning, friends, and happy Friday! This weekend, we’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day which, as you may have heard, is kind of a big deal in New York. There are a lot of parties going on. We’ll be down there for some of the action, though sadly, no green beer will be consumed until after I complete the New York City Half Marathon on Sunday! I’m so excited to be participating in this run on behalf of my sister Karla, and I’m excited to be a part of the St. Patrick’s festivities!

I may or may not have let you in on my heritage, and don’t let the red hair fool you – there’s some Irish in there, but only just a bit. If you want it all listed out, I’m Swedish-Italian-Scotch-Irish-French, and there’s a little bit of Czech rattling around in there somewhere. As I mentioned in my 101 in 1001 challenge, I’m busy trying to map all of that out – there are some wonderful stories to tell in there! But I do feel ties to my Celtic heritage. I’ve always worn a traditional claddagh ring, and I loved the symbolism behind it {when my husband and I were going through six months of long distance relationship, I liked being able to show that I was spoken for}, and looking at these beautiful pictures from Ireland, where at least some of my ancestors spent their days, it shows me why I feel at home in the rocks and trees and hills of New York:

And what does a good Irish girl wear to celebrate her heritage? Well, even though emerald is the Pantone color of the year, I’m not all about loading myself up with green. With these subtle accent pieces, the pale mint pants, the springy accessories {I am absolutely craving warmth right now}, the white touches, and my red hair, I’d make a perfect Irish flag:

All in all, many folks wonder why St. Patrick’s Day is so important in the United States, for those of us who have Celtic heritage and for those who don’t at all. Why is it important for any of us to know and celebrate our heritage, to keep telling our stories, to pass on old folklore and traditions? I think it’s human nature to want to be part of something larger than ourselves, to celebrate the emotional and physical ties we have to something beyond ourselves. And for everyone else? Celtic traditions are full of stories and magic and beyond that, they’re just fun. There’s nothing wrong with festivities that make us all come together and have fun. Hmmm…speaking of festivities, I’ve still got to host the beer tasting party I was talking about this time last year…

Here’s hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend!

KCS

P.S. Want more St. Paddy’s day style? Check out the link-up: