EDITORIAL: Why do we have parades on St Patrick's Day?
This St Patrick's Day thousands of parades will take place around the world.
Is it just me that likes to know about the history of famous holidays that we all celebrate? This St Patrick’s bank holiday weekend we will watch the parades in our local towns and celebrate with friends and family, but how did this tradition really begin?
The first parades held for St Patrick’s Day were not held in Ireland, which might shock some readers! The first ever recorded parade celebrating St Patrick’s Day took place in New York City on March 17, 1762, and was organized by Irish soldiers serving in the British Army. The parade was a celebration of Irish heritage and culture for these soldiers living abroad.
Over the years St Patrick’s Day has moved from its origins as a wholly religious holiday celebrating the feast day of St Patrick.
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It has come to symbolise instead everything worth celebrating about Ireland and its culture. It is a way to connect to your origins when living outside of Ireland and celebrate your culture with others who may have never been to the emerald isle.
It’s hard to even know how many St Patrick’s Day parades there are worldwide every March 17, but one can guess there are hundreds if not thousands of them taking place worldwide each year.
While we all celebrate this long-weekend, no matter where we were in the world, every Irish person was connected through this joyous day.
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Parades play an important part of keeping communities together and showcasing the talented people we have living in the community.
Whether you are marching for a sport, a dance group or a music group, it’s amazing to see so many local people share their passions by taking part in these parades.
It’s a great way to keep community spirit alive and connect people with each other, especially in small towns.
Parades also help highlight tireless volunteers that each community has that may not get the recognition that they deserve.