Happy St. Patrick's Day!/Ashes of Roses

We've all heard tales of leprechauns and gold, but how many of you know the real story behind today's holiday?  According to legend, St. Patrick was born in the early fourth century A.D. in western England.  At age 16, he was captured by Irish raiders who carried him to slavery in Ireland.  Patrick escaped after six years and entered an English monastery, where he eventually became a bishop.  He returned to Ireland as a missionary and dedicated himself to converting the Irish to Christianity. 

Today, celebrations and parades mark the anniversary of his death in 492.  In is a national holiday in Ireland and has been celebrated in America since 1737, when a group of Irish Protestants met in Boston to honor St. Patrick and founded a group called the Charitable Irish Society.

If you're interested in learning more about what life was like for an Irish immigrant at the turn-of-the--century, check out Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch. 

Sixteen-year-old Rose Nolan and her family are grateful to have finally reached America, the great land of opportunity. Their happiness is shattered when part of their family is forced to return to Ireland. Rose wants to succeed and stays in New York with her younger sister Maureen. The sisters struggle to survive and barely do so by working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Then, just as Rose is forming friendships and settling in, a devastating fire forces her, Maureen, and their friends to fight for their lives. Surrounded by pain, tragedy, and ashes, Rose wonders if there’s anything left for her in this great land of America.  Teen Fic Auch