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St. Patrick's Day: The Backstory

St. Patrick's Day, or The Feast of St. Patrick, is a well-known holiday, known for fun (and sometimes crazy) parties all over the United States. Shamrocks are abundant and you'll be seeing in the color green just about everywhere you go on March 17th. However, many people celebrate the holiday without ever knowing WHY they are celebrating or WHAT the traditions mean. We're here to put those questions to rest.

What is St. Patrick's Day, Besides a Party?

St. Patricks' Day is when people, specifically those of Irish descent, recognize and remember St. Patrick, a historical figure of religious significance in Ireland. The day was traditionally celebrated as a feast day by those of the Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Lutheran churches.

Who Was Saint Patrick?

It is thought that St. Patrick was born a Roman Britain to a wealthy family in the fourth century. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders at age 16 and sold as a slave. He served as a shepherd in Gaelic Ireland for 6 years, and during that time, it is historically said that he "found God". According to the story, God told him to flee to the coast where a ship would be waiting to take him home. Once he made his way home, Patrick became a priest, and later returned to Ireland to convert the pagan society to Christianity. During his ministry, he converted thousands, and tradition holds that he passed away on March 17th.

Why All the Shamrocks?

According to the historical tales, St. Patrick used clover, a three-leaf plant, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.

Saints and Parties?

Traditionally, the Feast of St. Patrick was the one day that the restrictions of Lent were lifted, and people could indulge in the things they had given up, including alcoholic beverages. It was a time to honor and celebrate the patron saint Patrick and remember what he did for the Irish people. Today, St. Patricks Day is used as a huge marketing holiday for many food and beverage (specifically beer) companies since the day is celebrated with large parties  around the world. They take advantage of the concept of "abundance" and extravagance that has come to be associated with St. Patricks' day.

So, this St. Patrick's Day, go green on March 17th knowing exactly why you're wearing those sparkly shamrock glasses and enjoying a fun party with your friends. Are you feeling like you’re out of luck when it comes to advertising your business or building your brand online? It’s time to call Newton Peach Marketing! We are Polk County’s top choice for online and small business marketing. We personalize the process of building your brand, and tailor a plan to you, your budget, and your business. Call us!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Hit the Ground Running: Benefits of Running for Exercise

A New Year means new goals. What is yours?

Almost 50% of people who make new years resolution create a goal for exercising more, but few actually follow through with it. Many times, roadblocks like lack of money, no transportation, or no time are listed as reasons for falling off the exercise bandwagon. However, there is one type of exercise that costs very little, and you can do anywhere.

Are you ready to RUN??

Though running gets a reputation for being no fun, it is actually one of the most beneficial forms of exercise you can do. Not only is running an amazing aerobic exercise for your heart, it also produces serotonin (a hormone that increase the body’s feelings of wellbeing and happiness). Below are some benefits from running that may change your mind about the exercise:

Running adds years to your life

Many studies have shown that running increases your lifespan. How? After a period of time running, the human body shows an increase in cardiovascular fitness, lower cholesterol, less body fat, stronger bones, better hormone regulation, and all of these (and more) are key to good health and therefore, a likely increase in your lifespan.

Increase in sleep

Sleep is important for every human’s functional wellbeing. Whether you’re an athlete, a mom, or a businessman, everyone requires sleep. Because of the intensity of running, your body is going to be tired and will crave the rest and recovery your needs. An article in the American Journal of Lifestyle Exercise touted a connection between exercise and sleep; the worse your sleep habits, the less likely you are going to exercise, and vice versa.

Weight loss

Everyone knows that cardio helps you lose weight. Running burns more fat than (almost) any other activity because you are using your entire body through the duration of the exercise. On average, running burns 100 calories per mile! Many people find that losing weight is not difficult, but keeping it from coming back is. The only way to keep off the weight is to commit to a long-term exercise regime, and running fulfills that need.

Reduces Alzheimers, cancer, and many other diseases

A completely unexpected health benefit of running is the stimulated release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps the growth and survival of brain neurons. This aids in protection from brain plaques linked to Alzheimers. A study done in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a connection that high-fitness exercises had a lower risk for developing 26 kinds of cancers. Along with lowering the risk, running can also reduce the effects of cancer if someone already has it.

It’s no secret that running pushes the mind and the body, but there are SO many benefits when you commit to a routine of physical exercise. Here at Newton Peach Marketing, we also strive to push ourselves, by committing to continued growth and effort in our business. This new year, we are focused on growing personal relationships with owners to help them reach their new-year business goals. With many custom options available, we are focused on your personalized plan to help you expand your business. We want to see you and your business flourish in 2022!