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Green River, specialty drinks, and parades celebrate St Patrick’s Day!

In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies united their parades to form one official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants. Nearly 3 million people annually line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. This year, it will happen again on March 16.

Who was Saint Patrick, and why would he return to a country that enslaved him?

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as an enslaved person at the age of 16. After escaping to Britain, Patrick returned to Ireland after one of his dreams deeply moved him. In the dream, an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. He is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland. This history of St. Patrick’s faith reminds us to remember that as God leads us, our life will be a blessing to others.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on or around March 17, the anniversary of his death in 461 AD at 76. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

St Patrick’s Day is still the most significant and national holiday in Ireland’s cultural calendar.

When Irish immigrants brought St. Patrick’s Day traditions to the United States, the day became a religious and cultural celebration.

For more history about Saint Patrick, please visit this website: https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

For more information on Chicago’s river turning green, visit this site: https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/holidays/st-patricks-day-chicago/#:~:text=The%20Chicago%20River%20dyeing%20is,back%20over%20half%20a%20century

For more information about the New York Parade, please visit:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/st-patricks-day-parade-nyc-guide

Writer’s note: I realized I did not have a green shirt to wear for the camera shoot and rushed to Dunham’s to find one at 4:55 pm—they close at 5:00 pm! One of their staff members, Cindy, helped me locate one! Once again, their motto came true—Ann Dunham Rawson reminds us that There’s More In Store At Dunham’s.