St. Nicholas Day and Other Events....

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The wind is blowing, rain is falling and it's cold...brrrrrr...Hello there, yes it's me again. I'm sat here snug-as-a-bug in my lounge with the fire blazing, the only place to be when the weather is like this. It's definately winter woolies time...

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I bet it wasn't cold like this when St. Nicholas, an historic 4th-century saint and Greek bishop, was born. He is remembered each year on the 6th December, which is known as St. Nicholas Day. In many European countries a festival for children is held on this day. Now, I didn't know that until today...

What I did know however was that St. Nicholas is also known as Father Christmas or Santa Claus. Surving legends about St. Nicholas relate that, among many things, he was a bringer of gifts....

St. Nicholas ~ 270 AD - 6 Dec 343 AD ~

December 6th also marks the anniversary of the death of American singer and songwriter Roy Orbison. He performed many songs but the one that he is probably most remembered for is 'Oh Pretty Woman' released in 1964 and was forever immortalised in the 1990 film 'Pretty Woman' starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts....yes you've guessed it, another favourite film of mine...


Roy Orison ~ 1936-Dec 6 1988 ~

'Pretty Woman' ~ 1990 ~


St. Nicholas and Roy Orbison also share this day in history with a very important event that affected both Britain and Ireland....The Anglo-Irish Treaty..

The National Flag of Ireland (also known as the Irish Tricolour)

The flag was presented as a gift to Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848 by a small group of French women sympathetic to the Irish cause. It was not until the 1916 Easter Rising that it was regarded as the National flag. It was then adopted in 1919 by the Irish Republic. Although the flag's meaning is not covered by the Irish Constitution, the Irish Government has stated that the green colour represents the Gaelic tradition of Ireland, the orange represents the followers of William of Orange and the white representing peace or truce between them. I like to think so because my roots began in Ireland on my paternal side, my father being born in County Offally....

Anglo-Irish Treaty Signatures

But back to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland. It was in London on December 6 1921 that the treaty was signed by representatives of the British Government and envoys of the Irish Republic. This established the Irish Free State and also provided Northern Ireland an option to opt out, which it did...

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The Irish Free State created by this Treaty came into force on December 6 1922 by Royal proclamation....

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Some of the representatives at this historical event are seen below...

The Right Honourable Austen Chamberlain, Lord Privy Seal ~ 1863-1937 ~

Sir Winston S Churchill, Secretary of State for the Colonies ~ 1874-1965 ~

The Right Honourable David Lloyd George, Prime Minister ~ 1863-1945 ~

The Right Honourable Lord Birkenhead, Lord Chancellor ~ 1872-1930 ~

The Right Honourable Gordon Hewart, Attorney General ~ 1870-1943 ~

Arthur Griffith ( Art O Griobhtha), Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ~ 1872-1922 ~

Michael Collins (Michael O Coileain), Secretary of State for Finance ~ 1890-1922 ~

Robert Childers Barton, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs ~ 1881-1975 ~

There were many clauses within the Treaty and one of the main clauses was that British forces would withdraw from most of Ireland......

British Cavalry Soldiers leaving Ireland 1922

History is made every day and we hope we learn by past mistakes. All I wish for everyone is that we can all live in peace together...Until next time, take care...Hugs Chrissy xx