History
History of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th each year. The first Irish celebrations that took place in St. Patrick’s honor on the date of his death were noisy affairs in Ireland. The Irish who immigrated to America took the celebration with them. (They were not going to forget to remember their Saint Patrick in March.) St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in North America since 1737.
It all began when some of the Irish in Boston took to the streets to celebrate the formation of an Irish Charitable Society — they can now lay claim to being the first parade. Today St. Patrick’s Day boasts the largest number of ethnic celebrations in North America. The New Orleans area remembers him with several of the now 122 parades for Ireland’s national hero.
The biggest parade in the U.S., held in New York, originated in 1762 when a group of Irish-born militia on their way to a breakfast celebrating St. Patrick’s Day staged an impromptu march through the streets of Colonial New York with their regimental band. They’ve been marching ever since!
A Sea of Green: The Metairie Road St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
There are several St. Patrick’s Day parades in Greater New Orleans, but none is more beloved than the one on Metairie Road in Jefferson Parish. Long before the parades arrive crowds are out on the streets, enjoying the day, often with their ice chests nearby. From a distance, all you can see is a sea of green. You will see revelers using second line umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun – they are not just for Mardi Gras — and many will be drinking green beer. Many people bring their dogs to the parade all dressed up for St. Paddy’s Day. Some even set up ladders alongside the route with a special seat for the kids so they can see above the crowds. (See gallery)
Once the parade starts, you’ll see large floats, accompanied by bands, music, and marching clubs. Each is decorated with a St. Patrick’s Day theme and carries costumed riders who throw their goodies to the crowd. While you will catch beads, the throws in this parade are different from those at Mardi Gras parades. The best catches are the ingredients that go into an Irish stew – potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbages – with the occasional MoonPie thrown in for fun.
Once the parade is over, the parish has a lot of cleanup work to do. In fact, the amount of trash often determines the success of a parade. See the gallery for just a small example of what the street looks like after the green dissipates.