Re: HIT: ORANGEMEN & St. Pattick's Day

[Guusje Zimmerman Moore <guusje@TENET.EDU>]

Orange is the "offical color" of the House of Orange which is the
"offical name" for the Dutch Royal Family.  William was Dutch, and
married Mary, but they ruled jointly, and he was if memory serves me also
the King of Holland at the time.

In Holland the Dutch Flag is frequently flown with an orange strip or
banner beneath it, in honor of The House of Orange. It's a way of showing
allegiance to the Queen - or King.

Since Wiliam of Orange beat the Irish very badly and pretty much ended
their dreams for an independent Ireland, I can see why they hate the
color Orange.

                           Guusje Moore
                 Librarian, Housman Elementary School
                           Houston, Texas
                          guusje@tenet.edu