Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade

By Citizen Correspondent William Murphy , Dublin, Ireland
Date Posted: 02/26/08 Reader Rating:

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent, hence the phrase, "Everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day." Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink, and attending parades. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five-day festival; over 500,000 people attended the 2006 parade. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in New York City and it is watched by 2 million spectators. The St. Patrick's Day parade was first held in Boston in 1737, organized by the Charitable Irish Society. New York's celebration began on 17 March 1766 when Irish soldiers marched through the city. Ireland's cities all hold their own parades and festivals. A recent American twist on the holiday reflecting its growing popularity among the non-Irish is the making and selling of green bagels on and near the day. All photos copyright William Murphy.