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Well, actually, let me first tell you how St. Valentine is connected to Ireland. Then let me show you what expressions Irish might use to celebrate this holiday. Finally, let me give you beautiful Irish gift ideas so you can show your chuisle (sweetheart) how much you love them.
My Irish Valentine, let me tell you the ways...
My Irish Valentine...Way #1
St. Valentine has more to do with Ireland than would first guess. For instance, did you know that...
Even though he was executed in Rome for refusing to deny Christ, his heart made it all the way to Ireland where it still rests today at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in a golden box in a shrine dedicated to this Saint.
Pope Gregory XVI brought St. Valentine 'home' to Ireland in 1835, but the Saint's popularity among the Irish didn't become popular until the new shrine was erected in the Saint's honor in the 1950s.
Thousands of people visit St. Valentine's shrine in Dublin every year, both Irish and tourists to Ireland alike. They ask St. Valentine to find them love, to fix their love, or to strengthen their current love.
Healing the blind, marrying couples, and converting people to Christianity are all also included in St. Valentine's repertoire but it seems that he is best known in Ireland for ways of the heart (pun intended) which brings me to showing you expressions of love that are enrooted in Irish culture...
My Irish Valentine...Way #2
"When I count my blessings, I count you twice." - Irish proverb
"There is no cure for love other than marriage." - Irish proverb
"May you never steal,
lie, or cheat. But if
you must steal, then
steal away my
sorrows. If you must
lie, then lie with me
all the nights of my life. And if you must cheat, then please cheat death, because I could never live a day without you."
- An Irish Blessing
Of course there are other expressions said on this day but I'll only leave you with one so as not to get too out of hand...
...but, rest assured, we'll be there for you on St. Patrick's Day, too!
My Irish Valentine...Way #3
Finally, I'm going to give you six gorgeous Irish gift ideas for just about any loved one in your life. Below you'll find some of our favorites...
Always & forever pebble art: We love that each piece of pebble art by this Irish artist is unique...just like the one you love!
Silver claddagh pendant: A perfect way to show your love, especially since this pendant has Connemara Marble embedded within.
Bunch of lavender soap: Gorgeous donkey soap with an aroma that instantly relaxes the senses. Made in Leitrim, Ireland on a farm that truly cares for their donkeys.
All because two people fell in love: This lovely ceramic wall plaque says it all with its deep greens and reds.
Fallow antler whiskey flight: Straight from the Highlands of Scotland with four Glencairn dram glasses, this handsome, handmade whiskey flight is ethically sourced and would make an exceptional gift for the whiskey enthusiast in your life.
Fairy silver pendant: Want to give a little Celtic fairy magic to her? Rarer than gold and more precious than jade, this Connemara Marble fairy pendant just might do the job.
Give a gift as special as your love! Treat your valentine to a charming imported treasure from the Emerald Isle. Our Irish gifts straight from Ireland will delight your honey's heart.
So, whether you decide to ask St. Valentine in the ways of love, express yourself with Irish love proverbs, shower your sweety with gifts from the heart, or maybe a combination of all three, you can say you got it all from The amEIREcan - Irish Gift Shop!
Sources: IB4UD, Sky News, The Irish Store, Some ee cards
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