Happy St Patrick’s day everyone! I watched the St Paddy’s parade only in London before, so I was super excited to attend one in New York.
First, let’s discuss some basics. Saint Patrick’s Day parade is an annual celebration that falls on 17 March. It’s dedicated to Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland who basically christened the country. He was born in the 4th in Britain occupied by Romans at that time and was captured by pirates and brought into slavery at 16 years.
You can explore his life in ‘The Confession’, which is supposed to be written by himself (so it’s kind of autobiography).
‘My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and that is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time. At that time, I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity in Ireland, along with thousands of others’
St Patrick’s Day Parade
Celebration of St Patrick’s Day are traditionally the largest in the US (bigger than in Ireland!) which has a big Irish community. You can meet all the symbols of the feast around the city: shamrocks (initially it represented the Trinity and also had some similarities with older pagan Celtic symbols), Irish flag, leprechauns, green everything – even kids clothes in supermarkets and many other activities: for instance, even St Paddy’s cruise!
People drink – green beer or Irish Whiskey anyone? – dance and sing during traditional gatherings called cèilidh or simply in the pubs and on the streets. NYC parade storms the Manhattan for many years. The first one took place in 1762 – just imagine that United States Declaration of Independence dates to 1776!
It sets off at the 44th street and goes up to the 80th street where American Irish Historical Society is located. St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue is one of the main sights of it.
You can also write a letter to the organisation before the 1st of March if you’d like to have a seat at the grandstand at Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
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Hope you enjoyed my blog!
Yours,
Anna xxx
