🚚 Free Shipping Offers For A Limited Time Only! Click Here To View The Best Offers!

Celebrate the Day When Everyone’s Irish

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

Shari's Berries

Sent on 10 March 2024 02:04 PM

Growing up in New York City, I lived in the heart of the American melting pot. There seemed to be a festival or parade celebrating the citys nationalities and ethnicities nearly every weekend. It was a great way to meet new people and experience the cultures of my hometown.

Every year on March 17, it was my familys turn, and this kid from Queens was always amazed at how many people turned out for the St. Patricks Day parade and related festivities. Regardless of the weather, a sea of people adorned in green joined the parade along Manhattans Fifth Avenue.

It felt like everyone claimed to have at least a few drops of Irish blood in them. They marched (or just walked the parades rules were very flexible), sipped green-tinged beer, and enjoyed soda bread or corned beef and cabbage for dinner. More than a few added an O or a Mc prefix to their names, if only for the day.

Digging deeper into my roots

Although my family always celebrated St. Patricks Day, I didnt explore my own heritage until the 1990s when I started reading Irish America magazine. It helped people like me fill in the historical gaps and better understand the stories of my ancestors.

My interest (and my natural Irish gregariousness) eventually led me to connect with the publications founder, Patricia Harty. Im lucky to now count her as a friend and credit her for encouraging me to track down some of the McCann family who still live on the Emerald Isle.

I was surprised to learn from Patricia that, in Ireland, St. Patricks Day used to be a quiet religious holiday that was capped off with a simple meal of bacon or ham. It didnt become a giant party until Irish immigrants in the United States turned it into one. Now everyone is celebrating in Ireland too!

St. Patricks Day rituals & traditions

I have several St. Patricks traditions. I always start the day by sending out a group text message to my friends that reads, Top O the mornin to ye! Ive been doing this for years, and my friends all indulge me by responding properly, And the balance of the day to you.

When Im in New York, I never miss the parade (which this year is taking place on Saturday because St. Patricks Day falls on the Sabbath). Its the oldest (the first one was held in 1762) and largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world, with 150,000 people marching and 2 million spectators.

I have so many fond memories of the parade. My favorite happened in 2022 when my wife, Marylou, and I watched it from the steps of St. Patricks Cathedral as a guest of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and our good friend Ed OBrien. Its something Ill never forget.

The other staple of the holiday is gladly indulging in Marylous famous Irish soda bread. Its her own special recipe that purposely leaves out some key ingredients. She realized that mistake the first time she made it, but the result was surprisingly so good that we encouraged her to make it the same way every year, and she has never let us down. It took some coaxing, but Marylou agreed to allow me to share the recipe with all of you. Check out her recipe here.

Embracing St. Patricks Day

As the weekend approaches, I eagerly anticipate the familiar rituals and embrace that St. Patrick's Day is not just a day on the calendar; it is a celebration of family, friendship, and the rich tapestry of cultural diversity that make our communities thrive.

In the spirit of the holiday, I encourage everyone to experience the festivities, whether it's attending a local parade, savoring traditional Irish fare, or simply sharing a hearty "Top O' the mornin' to ye!" text with friends.

May this St. Patrick's Day be a joyful occasion for all, fostering connections, creating lasting memories, and celebrating the unique heritage that brings us together.

All the best,

Jim

On Friday, March 8, we celebrated International Womens Day, which is dedicated to honoring the strength, resilience, and journeys of incredible women worldwide. To mark this occasion, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the extraordinary Tamsen Fadal to share her story on this weeks podcast.

Tamsen was at the height of her career as a journalist and author when she pivoted to content creator on social media. Her mission? To guide and support women through the complexities of midlife, encouraging them to seize opportunities, and promoting wellness in both health and relationships. Today, Tamsen is exploring new ways to expand her mission, including an upcoming documentary and book focused on finding meaning during midlife and navigating menopause.

Tamsen's message is a powerful reminder of the importance of education, inspiration, and providing the necessary tools and resources to empower women at every stage of their journey.

What incredible women in your life should we celebrate? Nominate them by writing to . Dont forget to subscribe to Celebrations Chatter on YouTube.

Amazing (Irish) Moms

Moms play a critical role in passing along the rituals and traditions of their families heritage to their children. I was reminded of this by Bridget, a community member who shared a video on how she helps her children embrace their familys Irish background.

I trust that Bridget's story has left you as inspired as it did for me. How did your mother introduce you to your family's history and heritage? Share your story with me for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse letter.

Help shape the future of the Celebrations Pulse

Last week, we celebrated the fourth anniversary of this letter and marked the occasion by announcing the Celebrations Pulse Connections Council. Itll be a group of community members who will provide feedback on past letters, suggest future ones, and become a sounding board for the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands. What will you get in return? Expect a bunch of surprises from these brands.

Thank you to everyone who responded. If you missed last weeks letter, you can still join. Just send me a note and be sure to include your name and contact information. Those selected for the Connections Council will be announced in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse.

Good news of the month

In late February, students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, got the news of a lifetime: Ruth Gottesman, a former professor and widow of a Wall Street financier, donated $1 billion to cover tuition for the schools med students in perpetuity.

A Wall Street Journal article caught my attention, providing a fascinating account of the role a certain bespectacled Nebraskan played in this remarkable story. Professor Gottesmans husband, Sandy, began his career by finding and investing in the stocks of undervalued companies. Back in the 1950s, he heard about a similarly obsessed investor in Omaha Warren Buffett. They finally met in 1962 and continued their friendship for the next 60 years.

This narrative goes beyond being in the right place at the right time to invest in Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Instead, it emphasizes how these two individuals made it a point to stay connected. They spoke every Sunday night for decades!

You can read the full story here (subscription required) and here.

Security & Privacy | Manage Email Preferences | Terms of Offer | Unsubscribe

This email was sent to on 03/10/2024
2024 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Two Jericho PlazaSuite 200 Jericho, NY, 11753, USA

View as webpage

Text Summary Of This Email

Sharing a Letter from our Chairman & CEO

Logo

celebrations pulse

Every year on March 17, it was my familys turn, and this kid from Queens was always amazed at how many people turned out for the St. Patricks Day parade and related festivities. Regardless of the weather, a sea of people adorned in green joined the parade along Manhattans Fifth Avenue.

It felt like everyone claimed to have at least a few drops of Irish blood in them. They marched (or just walked the parades rules were very flexible), sipped green-tinged beer, and enjoyed soda bread or corned beef and cabbage for dinner. More than a few added an O or a Mc prefix to their names, if only for the day.

As a McCann, no extra letters were needed to identify my background. My Irish Catholic family embraced many of the rituals and traditions every day and celebrated by everyone on March 17.

Today, the festivities are no longer limited to big cities like New York. Next weekend, families and communities from coast to coast and around the globe will be celebrating Irish heritage, rituals, and traditions.

Digging deeper into my roots

Although my family always celebrated St. Patricks Day, I didnt explore my own heritage until the 1990s when I started reading Irish America magazine. It helped people like me fill in the historical gaps and better understand the stories of my ancestors.

My interest (and my natural Irish gregariousness) eventually led me to connect with the publications founder, Patricia Harty. Im lucky to now count her as a friend and credit her for encouraging me to track down some of the McCann family who still live on the Emerald Isle.

I was surprised to learn from Patricia that, in Ireland, St. Patricks Day used to be a quiet religious holiday that was capped off with a simple meal of bacon or ham. It didnt become a giant party until Irish immigrants in the United States turned it into one. Now everyone is celebrating in Ireland too!

St. Patricks Day rituals & traditions

I have several St. Patricks traditions. I always start the day by sending out a group text message to my friends that reads, Top O the mornin to ye! Ive been doing this for years, and my friends all indulge me by responding properly, And the balance of the day to you.

When Im in New York, I never miss the parade (which this year is taking place on Saturday because St. Patricks Day falls on the Sabbath). Its the oldest (the first one was held in 1762) and largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world, with 150,000 people marching and 2 million spectators.

I have so many fond memories of the parade. My favorite happened in 2022 when my wife, Marylou, and I watched it from the steps of St. Patricks Cathedral as a guest of Cardinal Timothy Dolan and our good friend Ed OBrien. Its something Ill never forget.

The other staple of the holiday is gladly indulging in Marylous famous Irish soda bread. Its her own special recipe that purposely leaves out some key ingredients. She realized that mistake the first time she made it, but the result was surprisingly so good that we encouraged her to make it the same way every year, and she has never let us down. It took some coaxing, but Marylou agreed to allow me to share the recipe with all of you. Check out her recipe here.

Another tradition is enjoying one of my favorite meals: traditional corned beef and cabbage, also made by Marylou. That, along with the soda bread certainly tests my willpower. Its like Thanksgiving in March!

Embracing St. Patricks Day

As the weekend approaches, I eagerly anticipate the familiar rituals and embrace that St. Patrick's Day is not just a day on the calendar; it is a celebration of family, friendship, and the rich tapestry of cultural diversity that make our communities thrive.

In the spirit of the holiday, I encourage everyone to experience the festivities, whether it's attending a local parade, savoring traditional Irish fare, or simply sharing a hearty "Top O' the mornin' to ye!" text with friends.

May this St. Patrick's Day be a joyful occasion for all, fostering connections, creating lasting memories, and celebrating the unique heritage that brings us together.

All the best,

Jim

Chris

Shop 1-800-Flowers.com

Tamsen was at the height of her career as a journalist and author when she pivoted to content creator on social media. Her mission? To guide and support women through the complexities of midlife, encouraging them to seize opportunities, and promoting wellness in both health and relationships. Today, Tamsen is exploring new ways to expand her mission, including an upcoming documentary and book focused on finding meaning during midlife and navigating menopause.

Tamsen's message is a powerful reminder of the importance of education, inspiration, and providing the necessary tools and resources to empower women at every stage of their journey.

What incredible women in your life should we celebrate? Nominate them by writing to . Dont forget to subscribe to Celebrations Chatter on YouTube.

Amazing (Irish) Moms

Moms play a critical role in passing along the rituals and traditions of their families heritage to their children. I was reminded of this by Bridget, a community member who shared a video on how she helps her children embrace their familys Irish background.

I trust that Bridget's story has left you as inspired as it did for me. How did your mother introduce you to your family's history and heritage? Share your story with me for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse letter.

Help shape the future of the Celebrations Pulse

Last week, we celebrated the fourth anniversary of this letter and marked the occasion by announcing the Celebrations Pulse Connections Council. Itll be a group of community members who will provide feedback on past letters, suggest future ones, and become a sounding board for the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands. What will you get in return? Expect a bunch of surprises from these brands.

Thank you to everyone who responded. If you missed last weeks letter, you can still join. Just send me a note and be sure to include your name and contact information. Those selected for the Connections Council will be announced in an upcoming Celebrations Pulse.

Good news of the month

In late February, students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York, got the news of a lifetime: Ruth Gottesman, a former professor and widow of a Wall Street financier, donated $1 billion to cover tuition for the schools med students in perpetuity.

A Wall Street Journal article caught my attention, providing a fascinating account of the role a certain bespectacled Nebraskan played in this remarkable story. Professor Gottesmans husband, Sandy, began his career by finding and investing in the stocks of undervalued companies. Back in the 1950s, he heard about a similarly obsessed investor in Omaha Warren Buffett. They finally met in 1962 and continued their friendship for the next 60 years.

This narrative goes beyond being in the right place at the right time to invest in Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Instead, it emphasizes how these two individuals made it a point to stay connected. They spoke every Sunday night for decades!

You can read the full story here (subscription required) and here.