An observation from the Tartan Parade

[NewPiperinNY]

Saturday was one of the days that I can honestly say was at the tops of my 'Fun Day' list. You can bet I will be back next year in NYC for the parade and the beer and the music and the beer and the kilting and the beer... you get the point.

An observation tho... struck me as supremely odd. The very end of the Tartan Day Parade was a 'Nessie'. Kinda of like what you'd find in a small town parade, like was made Friday night by a frat house for a parade down Main Street. I understand the fascination with Loch Ness and the worldwide appeal. But if they were to end the St Patricks' Day Parade with a 'leprechaun', I would be somewhat irritated.

[McMurdo]

You know up in Fergus on the weekend there were many people men and women alike who were wearing what is known as "Jimmy Hats" they were more than welcome to join the kilted pub crawl, the thing is sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. On another note I wonder how many tourism pounds Nessie has brought in I would think the Myth or Legend of Nessie is one to be embraced not embarrassed about.

[NewPiperinNY]

You know up in Fergus on the weekend there were many people men and women alike who were wearing what is known as "Jimmy Hats" they were more than welcome to join the kilted pub crawl, the thing is sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. On another note I wonder how many tourism pounds Nessie has brought in I would think the Myth or Legend of Nessie is one to be embraced not embarrassed about.

I don't mean to insinuate that there's no place in the festivities for Nessie. I am just confused by the placement. I would want the parade to end on a high note .. something important to the pride of the people. I can't believe that a fictitious (or not... who am I to say?) resident of the deep is the last impression that the organizers felt was most important.

It would be great to see the parade (and festivities) grow in stature as the years go by.

[macwilkin]

Considering that one of the first legends about "Nessie" involves St. Columba, why not? After all, most American St. Patrick's Day parades are filled with all sorts of blarney about St. Patrick...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lochness/legend.html

T.

[Colonel MacNeal]

At least we aren't burdened with those odious leper-chauns like our Irish brethren.
Now a dragon in a Welsh parade would be awesome.

[Jock Scot]

Um, when Nessie has finished parading over there, do you think you could ask it to return home?

[piperdbh]

I think I agree with the original post here.
Because of French opera and its influence on entertainment over the past +/-150 years, we've been conditioned to expect a "grand finale" to just about everything, from novels to fireworks shows. When a parade of this size ends with a not-very-well constructed "Nessie", it can be kind of disappointing. Had it been a big balloon, or a fire-breathing "Nessie", or something a bit better built, there probably would not be a problem.

I wish I could have been there.