Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Are you Irish? Do you celebrate this day? Are you wearing green? do you believe in leprechauns!?
I spent some time Googling the origin of St. Patrick’s Day and why it’s celebrated! I learned many things I did not know! I encourage you to research St. Patrick’s Day to glean some interesting facts! Plus you never know if these facts will turn up in a game of Trivial Pursuit, or Jeopardy, and you’ll have the answers!
Growing up, as an adopted person, I never had a claim to any ethnicity. That bothered me for decades! I had friends from all cultures that seemed to have holidays celebrating as such. I desperately wanted to be a part of some specific heritage!
Then came the founding of Ancestry.com and all the information you could possibly access!
Through several years of research, I believe I found my birth mother’s name, but have never been able to locate her. Found first cousins who said they’ve not seen her since 1969. But I digress!
I eventually sent for the DNA kit and sent it in! So anxious to finally find out what kind of background I came from! The feeling of actually knowing my heritage, brought me joy and the emotion of belonging to specific cultures!
I am happy to report that I am:
41% Scottish – In my research, I found that my birth grandfather, was first generation Scottish! The last name I was born with was Farquarhson! It was shortened from Sarfarquarhson. I’d never heard the name, and I’m glad I didn’t grow up with it! Too many letters!
36% English – Which surprised me, as my physical attributes don’t ‘speak’ English to me. Very dark, curly hair, olive skin tone that turns very, very dark in the sun. I do however, have an ‘English’ nose shape.
9% German – Well, ok!
6% – Irish! Which may explain my blue eyes! Hard to say, but I qualify to wear the ‘Kiss Me, I’m Irish’ T-shirt!
And finally, 6% African, from the land of Togo! Which probably explains my hair and skin! I’ve often been asked if I have any African heritage. I can proudly say, yes I do!
Learning ethnicity may not be a priority to many, but it always has been for me, because I was adopted! Growing up, not looking like either of your parents is a bit off putting at times. Especially when holidays geared towards certain ethnic groups come along.
I’m not going to be cooking corned beef and cabbage today, although I do enjoy both of those foods, but I might check the yard for four leaf clovers and maybe a leprechaun or two that may be hiding in the field!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to my fellow Irish men and women! Top ‘O the Mornin’ and have a green beer to celebrate!