Saint Patrick's Day Traditions in the USA

Don't do it!















SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TRADITIONS in the USA
They differ sharply from what we do in Ireland.

SHAMROCK:
The most famous tradition associated with Saint
Patrick's Day is 'the wearing of the green'. It
is the custom of people of Irish descent, (or
indeed of anyone who wants to mark the day) to
wear a sprig of Shamrock. This humble plant is
one of the most famous symbols representing
Ireland, the Harp being the other.

THE PARADE:
The famous parade to mark Saint Patrick's day has
a long tradition. It is claimed that the first
such march held in the US took place in Boston
in 1737! It is very unlikely that any celebrations
were conducted in open during the 1700s and early
1800s in Ireland. This was the time of the 'penal
laws' when the Catholic religion was banned and
mass was conducted in secret. Children were
education in the open countryside in the infamous
'hedge schools'. In modern times parades of some
description are organised in nearly every major
city in the world. In recent years there have even
been parades in major English cities, a sure sign
of the ever-changing relationship that Ireland
has with her closest neighbour.

FOOD AND DRINK:
Corned Beef and Cabbage washed down by cold beer
may not be to everyone's taste but there is no
denying that the Irish culinary experience is at
its height (or depth!) on March 17th.

IRISH DANCING:
Traditional Irish dancing is certainly a part of
traditional Saint Patrick's Day. Most parades
have several dance troupes among their number
while many clubs and pubs around Ireland have
Irish dancing on this special Irish day.

SEAN THORNTON AND MARY KATE DANAHER

The 1952 classic film 'The Quiet Man' starring
Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne is wheeled out
annually by RTE (Irish Television) as well as
other TV stations around the world.

Other pots of Blarney that are revived on
March 17th include 'Darby O'Gill and the
Little People' and 'Into the West'.

IRISH TAOISEACH IN THE WHITE HOUSE:
Since 1980 the Irish leader (Taoiseach) has
presented the US PResident with a bowl of
Shamrock on every Saint Patrick's day.

GREEN EVERYWHERE:
Several cities mark this famous occasion by
dyeing their city river green! The result is
usually both bizarre and hideous but not as
hideous as witnessing a pint of Guinness
with green dye on it.

Sacrilege!