E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Peter Foley / EPA
Bagpipers march in the 252st Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade in New York, on March 16, 2013.
With bagpipes galore and plenty of Guinness, Irish-American revelers – and their less lucky non-Irish counterparts – celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with parades across the country on Saturday.
“This is the mother of all St. Patrick’s Day parades,” said Dani O’Connell of New Jersey, who joined the shamrock-wearing masses along New York’s Fifth Avenue. “I’ve got my St. Patrick’s Day parade hat. It’s about getting all dressed up and goofy and having fun – without or without the booze.”
Paul Beaty / AP
David Westerby of Kenosa, Wis. left, yells during the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago, on Saturday.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny marched alongside New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as crowds packed the route of the 252nd annual parade, and presented Bloomberg with a traditional Irish teapot.
“The Irish are found in every borough, every corner of New York,” Kenny said at a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast, NBC New York reported. “In previous generations, they came heartbroken and hungry, in search of new life, new hope. Today they come in search of opportunity to work in finance, fashion, film.”
New York’s festivities put those in the old country to shame, said Ewan Armstrong, who was visiting from London.
“I’m really digging the bagpipes,” said Armstrong, 23.
Green-clad lads and lasses in Chicago bundled up for their city’s parade as temperatures hovered in the mid-thirties – but it would take more than that to keep Chicago Journeyman Plumbers from their annual rite dyeing the Chicago River a radiant jade, NBC Chicago reported.
Of course, St. Patrick’s Day does not properly start until Sunday, when Boston will hold its annual parade.
“There’s no place like the City of Boston when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day traditions and celebrations,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a statement on Friday.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Members of the Ireland Police department wait to join the rest of the parade on 5th Avenue during the 252th New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16, 2013.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Tour boats travel the Chicago River after workers dyed it green to kick off the city's St. Patrick's Day celebration on Saturday in Chicago. The dying of the river has been a tradition in the city for 43 years.
Leave a Comment:
Let's face the facts the Saint Patrick's Day parades are now a month-long celebration. So many towns, villages any and all municipalities that can swing a parade with the hope that the locals and maybe the tourists will come-out enjoy the combination of early spring weather a few adult beverages and a jaunty Irish-American bag pipes tour de force. Whereas many other ethnic celebration parades bring out their own groups. The St Pat's day with the spring weather and the end of winter looming bolsters the many different peoples eager to get out of the house share a laugh and spend some time and money on Main street...
I'm reminded of how bad Oliver Cromwell, in the English Civil War, 1652, abused the poor Irish and killed women and children. This must of been why the Royals, kicked all the Crommies beloved dead Cromwell, had buried in Westminster Abby and buried them in a hole or mass grave.
Dyeing the water green! How offensive. If you are of a certain Irish decent, like my wife's family, your ancestors died for ORANGE. Green is offensive, just like the N-word.
Huh???
Not if you are an Irish Catholic! (which I am not) Besides this is America! Few people understand the difference and just want to celebrate the day and most St. Paddy's Day decorations in our stores are green.
Get a grip on yourself and think how nice it is to have an Irish holiday celebrated by people who are not Irish. I just got back from painting little green footprints all over my classroom and messing up all the leprecaun traps made by little Hispanic first graders who will thoroughly enjoy singing Irish songs and playing leprecaun games tomorrow at school!
My father always wore orange on St.Patrick's Day.He explained why but I was too young to understand at the time.He said he was making a statement.I need to read up on the history of Ireland since I am from Irish roots on both sides of my parents.
Green was Catholic.
Orange was Protestant.
OK, got it. I'm Catholic so all is good.
In Northern Ireland, orange was/is worn as a protest against the established government and the Catholic Church.
To this day, there are some Catholic Irish fathers in Ireland, and elsewhere who check their children's clothing on March 17 in order to determine whether they have the smallest bit of orange on anywhere. This includes shoe laces, hairclips, underwear, everything. Protestants check for green. The bad feelings are not over.
but we are getting there!
You have never been to Butte , MONTANA! Destination for you next year!
You need to go to New Orleans and see one of the finest St. Patrick's Day Parades and celebrations in the USA. The Irish Tainste and his wife and his staff celebrated with us at the 137 annual (no breaks since 1837) banquet.