DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   One of the greatest Irish festivals,  St. Patrick's Day or Paddy's Day  commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. A festive day for the Irish people, St. Patrick's Day is a festive public holiday the Republic of Ireland and also celebrated with much enthusiasm in places such as Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. Sumptuous feasts, green clothes, frothy delights, joyous merrymaking with friends and family - all are parts of this grand occassion. History    St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish. But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through his service across Ireland of the 5th century.       Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD. There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth. According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D., while  the other  school says it is about 373 AD. A

     The Carnaval de Oruro  (or  Carnival of Oruro ), is the biggest annual cultural event in Bolivia.     Celebrated in Oruro, the folklore capital of Bolivia, the carnival marks the  Ito festival  for the Uru people. Its ceremonies stem from Andean customs, the ancient invocations centering around  Pachamama  (Mother Earth, transformed into the Virgin Mary due to Christian syncretism) and  Tio Supay  (Uncle God of the Mountains, transformed into the Devil). The native Ito ceremonies were stopped in the 17th century by the Spanish, who were ruling the territory of upper Peru at the time. However, the Uru continued to observe the festival in the form of a Catholic ritual on  Candlemas,  in the first week of each February. Christian icons were used to conceal portrayals of Andean gods, and the Christian saints represented other Andean minor divinities. The ceremony begins 40 days before Easter.     Legend also has it that in 1789, a mural of the  Virgin Mary  mira

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Pops Recipe A frozen-pop version of the classic iced coffee Difficulty:  Easy |  Total Time:  15 mins, plus at least 8 hrs chilling and freezing time  |  Makes: About 6 (4-ounce) ice pops Like classic Vietnamese iced coffee, this frozen pop contains strong brewed coffee and sweetened condensed milk. It’s a caffeinated treat that’s not recommended for the kiddies! Special equipment:  You will need freezer pop molds for this recipe. We used these molds, but any kind will work. If yours don’t come with sticks that attach securely, you can buy wooden sticks and insert them about 1 1/2 hours into the freezing time. This recipe was featured as part of our 7 Ice Pops That Break the Mold. INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup  strong French roast  coffee  grounds, such as Café Du Monde, Cafe’de Paris, or Trung Nguyen 2 cups   water 1 (14-ounce) can   sweetened condensed milk 1 cup  heavy  cream INSTRUCTIONS Brew the coffee with the measured water. You sh