By Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - 06:20 am:
Stacey Flood was recently out skiing and commented that she was “lichen” her ski adventure with her husband. Clever pun or play on words! I thought her lichen photos would be perfect for today, being that it’s Saint Patrick’s Day and you all know the wearing of the green for this Irish holiday. I’ve often wondered what exactly lichen is and I found this info on the Internet to share with you all: “A lichen is a unique, composite organism formed from a symbiotic partnership between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides structure and protection, while the alga produces food through photosynthesis. Lichens are not plants, can live in harsh environments, and act as indicators of air quality.” So there you have it, you never know what interesting things you’ll learn here on the Pasty Cam.
And since it is St. Patrick’s Day, I figured we should learn more about how this Irish holiday came to be. It says this video is for kids, but I thought it would be good for us “kids at heart” folks to learn its origins, too. The lead-in says: “The history of Saint Patrick's Day dates back to the 5th century. A man named Patrick was born in Roman England. At age 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. After his escape, Patrick later returned to Ireland as a missionary. He played a crucial role in converting the Irish people to Christianity. March 17 is believed to be the date of his death, so it has been marked in his honor ever since. Today, Saint Patrick's Day has evolved into a major public festival celebrated globally. A unique part of the Saint Patrick's Day celebration is the "wearing of the green." This tradition is tied to Ireland's nickname, the Emerald Isle, and the green in the Irish flag. It is a day full of fun, history, and pride for people of Irish descent and those who simply love Irish culture.”
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
