St. Patrick's day has been moved

[macwilkin]

One thing also that should be pointed out: the St. Patrick's Day parade as we know it is really more of an Irish-American custom, rather than an Irish one per se. It's only been in recent years that this concept has found its way back to Ireland and the Irish expat populations in the UK.

Historians debate as to when the first St. Patrick's Day celebration was held in America; some credit Irish soldiers in the British Army in 1762. Others credit an Irish fraternal & mutual-aid society (who first President was a Presbyterian, btw) of holding the first parade in Boston in 1737.

We do know that Washington's army celebrated the holiday, and it was certainly celebrated in the Irish regiments of the Union Army during the Civil War.

For Irish-Americans, the St. Patrick's Day parade was just as much celebrating their successes in the new world, as well as being a religious holiday.

Mike Cronin's The Wearing the of the Green: a history of St. Patrick's Day is a very good book on the subject and worth perusing, if you are so inclined.

Cheers,

Todd

[DrewO]

One thing also that should be pointed out: the St. Patrick's Day parade as we know it is really more of an Irish-American custom, rather than an Irish one per se. It's only been in recent years that this concept has found its way back to Ireland and the Irish expat populations in the UK.

My wife and I were in Dublin in 2000 for St.Pat's. Everyone told us it was a very religious day and wasn't celebrated as here in the states. Perhaps it was because it was a "millenium" celebration, but it actually turned out to be a raucous 3 day affair.

We were amused/dissapointed at the parade though. No pipers (presumably all in the States getting $$$$$) and the grand finale of the parade was the University of Nebraska Marching Band, chanting "Go Big Red!" and all.