March 17 - Sveti Patrick
I warned a couple of women that I work with yesterday while we were at a seminar entitled "Women Can Do It" that today I would be celebrating an Irish Catholic holiday called Saint Patrick's Day.  The warning was due to the fact that if I saw them without something green on, they would be pinched!  They were astonished, and eagerly asked for explanations.  My fumbling explanations on Saint Patrick, green beer, leprechauns, and pinching about exhausted my Macedonian vocabulary.  I related how as a child I always was sure to wear something green on this day to school to avoid the pinching of my most-likely not even Irish peers. 

Jasminka, Nikola and I went to the library, found a daily newspaper, and read about Sveti Patrick, when he lived, what he did.  Like I've said before, there are so many holidays here there is a daily newspaper column to explain and remind of them all.  Needless to say, I did administer a few pinches to a few Macedonians who were unaware.  The librarian Gabby, warned in advance yesterday, wore a green blazer and scarf and blouse!  It is so great here how people who are of a different religion, are always happy to learn about a holiday in another religion or in another country.  Wonderful as well the opportunity for myself to experience the holidays here, for love, for luck, for forgiveness... they happen weekly, and I love it.  I can't wait a couple more weeks for...April Fool's Day!
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