Why does every 17th of March seem to be the exclusive property of the Irish? What is it that motivates hundreds of people to dress in green, consume massive quantities of corned beef and go dancing through the streets? The easy answer is “St. Patrick’s Day,” but who was this St. Patrick and why do we (especially those of us with Irish blood) celebrate him...

The 14th of February is now a day dedicated to sentimentality and open expressions of affection; besides being an incredible boon to the candy and greeting-card industries, it is also an excellent way to indulge one’s hormones at the height of an all-too-often brutal winter or corner one’s love interest and make a chocolate-fueled declaration of eternal adora...