Weeksville Heritage Center’s Post

#StPatricksDay was first observed around the 10th century and has since evolved into a celebration of Irish culture and heritage open to anyone. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other single-day national festival, mainly due to America’s enthusiasm for what many consider a holiday. For those in the U.S. looking to celebrate properly, use the Irish toast “sláinte,” which translates to “good health.” 🍀 Are you going out to celebrate the day?? For St. Patrick’s Day, the nationaltoday.com/ data science team surveyed 1,000 Americans on how they plan to spend the day. Wear green: 30% Eat Irish food: 13% I don’t plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: 12% Pinch people who don’t wear green: 9% Drink green beer: 8% Go to a St. Patrick’s Day parade: 6% Listen to Irish music: 5% Watch an Irish movie: 4% Go on a pub crawl: 3% Go Irish dancing: 2%

Since I came to the UK, more than 8 years ago, every Christmas I wait for the release of Christmas ad campaigns, just as many people do, from all the retailers but primarily from John Lewis. This year, the John Lewis ad really spoke to my heart. Grow your traditions, it said. Now, being Greek, married to an English man, with my closest friends being from Greece and Bulgaria, our traditions are always resembling a mix-tape from the 90s. Sometimes a successful one, sometimes one where the radio presenter couldn't stop interrupting the song and messing up our recording. Christmas means pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce but it also means honey-cookies (melomakarona) and powder sugar shortbread with almonds (kourampiedes). No wonder then why listening to John Lewis' message about growing our traditions meant a lot to me. But let's bring that in the workplace for a moment. What does "grow your traditions" mean at work? It means not only accepting diversity but embracing it. It means respecting and understanding other cultures and having a healthy appetite, a curiosity, for learning more about this international, interconnected world we live in. And if you do it right, then you have a very engaged workforce where people feel they belong to this wider group with all these different traditions. If you do it right, you grow your traditions and become stronger for it. And in my case you also become heavier as every tradition in Greece comes with delicious food. Take today for example...today is my name day. "What is that", I hear you saying. Name days are important in Greece. In older times they were more important than people's birthdays believe it or not. It's the day we celebrate the Saint who gave us our name; for me that's Saint Nicholaos and today is the day we celebrate him in Greece. Saint Nicholaos is the Saint protecting the sea travellers, the children and the poor. And, although I'm not religious, for different reasons, St Nicholaos has always had a place in my heart. As we're growing our traditions, I hope you all feel a bit more comfortable this year incorporating, including, more traditions in your lives. Name days is a good one. Comes with free chocolate and loads of celebrations! #growyourtraditions #nameday #engagementanddiversity

"Everywhere Else, It's Just Tuesday!" Today is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, here in the New Orleans region, and several other regions around the Gulf South. (And, yes France, and Brazil...) Of course, we firmly believe that no one else does it like New Orleans does it, so that's my perspective... From college forward, that's been the case. Moving here from Jackson, MS, Mardi Gras was a bit of a culture shock, but I loved it! I loved the acceptance of everyone for who they are. I loved the costumes and group t-shirts - the spirit of the day (and the season). And I really loved the people-watching. Observing our audience and paying attention to what matters to them is one of the highest-value activities we can do as business owners. During parades, it's not just "Throw Me Something Mister," human behavior is woven into every interaction on the parade routes throughout the regions. Crowds in the city behave differently than those in the suburbs. Certain parades attract different types of attendees. The personality of the parade attracts its ideal audience. Parade-goers can choose the dates they want to attend parades based on their schedules or they may have favorite parades based on personality and messages that are synonymous with each parade. And this has been happening for centuries (since Iberville in 1699). The city celebrated its TriCentenial in 2019. (source: NewOrleans.com) So, next time you feel out of sync with your audience or you find yourself wringing your hands about attracting ideal clients for your business, just channel a little Mardi Gras spirit. Do a little people-watching, pay attention to what your target audience is saying (and what they avoid saying), and the problems they mention most often. See how you might position your solutions to help them solve those top-of-mind problems. And for extra credit, think about creating your own special celebrations that just don't exist anywhere else so your people want to come hang out with you for these special and exclusive celebrations. And just for today, Happy Mardi Gras! or Happy Tuesday! if you are anywhere else in the world.

Confirming what we already knew, Lafayette has been named the best place to live in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report! The report cited Lafayette's outstanding restaurant, music and festival scene, robust local job market and high quality of life as reasons for the win. U.S. News & World Report evaluated cities based on several factors: job market strength, affordability, quality of life, and overall desirability. Read more at https://bit.ly/44TNFmY. #ULGradLove #ULGradLife

Winter Celebration BLACK FRIDAY SUPER SALE!!! Here is a lesson to celebrate cultures all over the world who use music, colour, lights, food, to vanquish the darkness. Replete with stories, templates, videos, links, activities, sports, dance, songs, assessment grids, and so much more. What are the differences in the celebrations? More importantly, what do they share? How do they promote connection? You are going to be amazed at the excitement and conversations this lesson evokes. https://lnkd.in/eUbSxFzs

Tomorrow is 'Fat Tuesday,' the epicenter of the celebration of Mardi Gras. Those two words evoke a lot of imagery for a lot of different folks, but any of you who know me probably aren't surprised that, to me, it is all about the music. That quintessential sound of brass bands plying their trade with the unmistakable blend of New Orleans jazz and Dixieland conjuring the images of a second-line parade strutting through the Quarter... there's really nothing like it in the world (though we do have our own thing here in Philly which has a shared history with Mardi Gras, but that's a story for another day). So... what parallel can we draw from that to what we do in the technology space? Well, to me, it has a lot to do with the idea of a 'Second Line' parade. What is a Second Line? It is when a band, the grand marshal, and whoever they are honoring (whether a family for a Jazz funeral, a couple for a Wedding celebration, etc) form the 'first line' or the beginning part of the parade, and the 'second line' is full of all of the spectators actively joining with the band and parading behind them, dancing, strutting, and celebrating along with the music being played. So, what can I take away from this that's relevant for my day-to-day? In our industry, it is easy to get so caught-up in what we are doing, what is important to us, what new piece of technology is compelling and why 𝘸𝘦 think so, etc, etc, etc, that we forget that the only reason this stuff is important to begin with is to 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 - to make them a part of the process and help them to connect with the story we're telling, the solution we're selling, the thing for which we're trying to advocate. We want to try to make everyone 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔, not spectators. As tech professionals, especially those of us in the 'Sales space,' we can't get 'caught with our head down in our music' and forget that, without an engaged audience, there is no performance at all. So, this Mardi Gras, I'm going to really try to remember to not only try to find the celebration in every day, but more importantly, never forget that, without the second line, there IS no parade. Let the good times roll!

Happy "Fat Tuesday" everyone! But do we ACTUALLY know what it is all about? Here's a quick cheat sheet so you are not stumped by the question above: Mardi Gras, known as "Fat Tuesday" in English, is a festive celebration held before the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter. Here's a breakdown of what it's all about: What: 1. A vibrant celebration filled with parades, music, dancing, costumes, and revelry. 2. A time for indulging in rich foods and drinks before the restrictions of Lent. 3. An opportunity to let loose and have fun before a period of religious observance. When: 1. Dates vary each year depending on Easter, but it always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent. 2. This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 13th, 2024. 3. While Fat Tuesday is the most celebrated day, festivities can start weeks beforehand, sometimes as early as January 6th (Twelfth Night). Where: 1. Most famously celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana, with elaborate parades, vibrant costumes, and iconic throws of beads and doubloons. 2. Celebrations also take place in other parts of the world, including Mobile, Alabama (claiming the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in the US), Rio de Janeiro (known for its samba dancers and lavish costumes), Venice (famous for its ornate masks and masked balls), and Cologne (featuring lively street celebrations and costumed revelers). Why: 1. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced back to pagan spring festivals and medieval European traditions. 2. Over time, it became associated with the Christian calendar, serving as a last hurrah before the solemn period of Lent. 3. For many, it's a time to connect with their community, enjoy cultural traditions, and create lasting memories. Some fun facts: 1. The colors of Mardi Gras have symbolic meaning: purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. 2. King cake, a sweet bread with a hidden baby figurine, is a popular Mardi Gras treat. 3. Mardi Gras has its own unique music, often featuring brass bands and lively rhythms. 4. Throwing and catching beads is a cherished tradition, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. I hope this explanation gives you a good understanding of what Mardi Gras is all about!

St. Patrick's Day- things to do and see! 🍀 St. Patrick's Day festivities can infuse the day with both cultural richness and a sense of community. Here's a strategy to maximize the celebration: 🌟 Begin with a local event. Many towns host parades and community gatherings. Begin your day with the local flair, experiencing the vibrant floats, music, and performances often dedicated to Irish culture. 🌈 Broaden your cultural knowledge while having fun. Dive into the history of St. Patrick's Day, perhaps through a book or documentary. Sharing this newfound knowledge can spark engaging conversations. 🎶 Embrace Irish music. Whether it means attending a live concert, listening to traditional Irish tunes, or even learning a jig or two, music is a powerful way to connect with the essence of the celebration. 🥘 Explore Irish cuisine. Try your hand at cooking traditional dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, or soda bread. Share your culinary adventure or the final results in your post! 🤝 Connect with your Irish roots or create new traditions. If you have Irish ancestry, consider delving into your heritage, or if not, create new traditions with friends and family. 🏡 End the day reflecting on the connections made, the joy shared, and the memories created. Wrap up your post by emphasizing the spirit of unity that St. Patrick's Day can foster. #StPatricksDay #IrishCulture #CommunityCelebration In sharing your St. Patrick's Day activities, you offer a blend of personal involvement and cultural appreciation that resonates universally. It's about more than just a day on the calendar; it's an opportunity to celebrate heritage and community everywhere.

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