Boston was the host of the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in America in 1737. The city continues that tradition with South Boston’s Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which is the second largest in the United States. At the original event in Boston, Irish immigrant workers marched to protest their unhappiness with their low social status and the difficulty of obtaining jobs in America. The march was on St. Patrick’s Day because it was also meant to express the immigrant’s Irish patriotism and celebrate their Irish heritage. The capital city of Massachusetts has an extensive Irish history with many Irish immigrating to Boston during the Potato Famine in the mid-1800s. Currently, about 25% of the population of Massachusetts is of Irish descent, which makes Massachusetts the most Irish state. Boston has more Irish pubs than any other city in the United States.

The Boston parade began in 1901. March 17th celebrates Irish culture by commemorating Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. March 17th also marks Evacuation Day in Boston, when in 1776 the British royal troops were evacuated from the city. The British were provoked by guns that were stolen at Ticonderoga and set up under General George Washington’s command on Dorchester Heights. The city of Boston sponsored celebrations of Evacuation Day, including the 125th anniversary in 1901 with a concert, parade, and fireworks display. Starting in 1947, the parade was organized by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council.

St Patrick's Day Parade in Boston

The history of the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is mostly without incident. The common issues are generally public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. However, beginning in 1992, there was tension because the Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston requested a spot in the parade. When the Allied War Veterans Council prohibited the group from marching, they claimed discrimination, and the group was granted a court order allowing them to march. The Council continued to appeal the decision. In 1995, Hurley v. Irish-American Gay Group of Boston went to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided that even though the parade was a public event, it was organized by a private group who had the right to exclude certain groups.

The Allied War Veterans of South Boston start organizing the celebration in August each year. The parade travels through South Boston, which is the city’s most Irish neighborhood. Currently, between 600,000 and one million people come to Boston to view the parade each year. The entire parade is shown live on television and even watched overseas by men and women in the United States Armed Forces. The parade is around three hours long and has over 100 groups participating with about 20,000 participants. There are floats, bands, color guards, and every branch of the armed services is represented. Many marching bands and pipe bands come from Ireland and all over the United States to march in the South Boston parade.

The 2011 South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade is on Sunday, March 20th and steps off at 1 p.m. The Boston parade begins at the Broadway T Stop. Marchers head down West Broadway, East Broadway, East 4th, 5th St, around Thomas Park, down Telegraph Street, Dorchester Street, and the parade ends at Andrew Square in South Boston. The route is three miles long and the best viewing areas for the parade are along Broadway or Dorchester Street. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a family event and Boston Police enforce laws to prevent public drinking. Irish pride will be in full force in 2011 as Boston celebrates 150 years of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.
photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk,Bryan Maleszyk

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Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a post from: Holiday Byte

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah is one of the largest celebrations in the country. All across the U.S., there are parades and festivities in honor of Saint Patrick, but Savannah’s lasts the better part of a week, takes over the whole town, and has been going strong since 1813. There are family friendly events as well as irish beer, so whatever kind of St. Patrick’s Day celebration you are looking for will be out there. Here are just a few things you may want to check out if you’re in the area around March 17:

All the festivities start off with the “greening” of the fountain at Forsyth park. Hundreds of St. Patrick’s Day enthusiasts gather around the fountain to watch tiny tinctures of dye dropped into the water, turning it bright green for the week. In fact, all the local fountains are turned green during St. Patrick’s in Savannah, as a way to remind everyone what time of year it is. This event is free, and a fun way to begin festivities.

Another experience that is a great time for everyone is the Tara Feis Irish Festival. Tara Feis is an outdoor fair with a live stage and plenty of room for other activities and performances. You can find food, music, dancing, crafts, games and much more. It’s a great way for the whole family to appreciate Irish heritage and culture, since there will also be a lot for children to enjoy, such as puppet shows and classic Irish Storytelling. There’s no entry fee, and the stage shows include first rate cultural music and dance.

Of course, no one should miss Savannah’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade. It is now the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in America, following only Boston, and has been going strong since the beginning of the 19th century (with the exception of a couple wartime breaks). Savannah’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade is full of Irish tradition and cultural expression, so it is worth getting a seat on the parade route.
photo credit: Bruce Tuten

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Saint Patrick’s Day Parade: Savannah is a post from: Holiday Byte

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St. Patrick’s Day parades are one of the most popular parades in America, and of the most notable is the Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The annual Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade no longer takes place in the city’s downtown, it takes place in the streets of the midtown area. The whole procession now ends in Westport. Green waves flood Broadway and turn all the people Irish. The first of the St. Patrick’s Day events was held in Kansas City way back in the nineteenth century.  The population of Irish immigrants expanded significantly.  As this happened, the celebrations of the Irish holiday became larger and larger.  The parades enjoyed years and years of incredible glory, but fizzled during the second half of the nineteenth century.

In 1973, Mike Murphy, the most popular host in Kansas City, and Dan Hoggarty and Pat O’Neill revamped the parade.  They painted a calf green and advertised that it would be the worst and shortest of any parade that has ever happened in the history of the world.  A great deal has been changed since this time.  For one thing, there were more than half a million people who came out to watch the parade in 2005.  It is now one of America’s largest Saint Patrick’s Day Parades.

It will even be broadcast on the local television stations.  The usual floats will be featured, but there will also be new floats that are special for this year.  They will also feature amazing balloons that are themed in Irish styles.

The Kansas City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a special event that everyone in Missouri will enjoy, whether they are young or old.  However, people should be careful to park close to the event.  It can be difficult to navigate through the large throngs of people.  This can become a challenge.  But parking close to the parade will make things much easier.  By keeping this in mind, one can have a great time on Saint Patty’s Day.
photo credit: KCIrishParade

Related posts:

1. Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade
2. Saint Patrick’s Day Parade: Savannah

Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a post from: Holiday Byte