St Patrick's Day Parades

St. Patrick´s Day is celebrated all around the world. Parades are a vital part of these festivities. Since the first parade was held in 1737 in Boston, there have been parades in thousands of U. S. cities.

The very first parade was put together by the Charitable Irish Society. New York started their Irish tradition in 1762, when Irish soldiers marched the city streets. Some festivities are ongoing for several days, for example, the parade in Dublin, Ireland. This marking of the occasion is held for five days in this Irish city. In 2006 more than 500,000 people came out to watch the St. Patrick´s Day parade.

The city that boasts the largest St. Patrick´s parade is Chicago. The parade draws over two million onlookers. Did you know there is a city that actually changes it´s name the week of St. Patrick´s anniversary? Yes, New London in Wisconsin changes it´s name to New Dublin for a week in observance of the holiday.

Due to the high instance of Irish ancestry in the United States many cities celebrate this holiday with a passion. Coatbridge celebrated it´s 183rd parade last March and holds the record for the longest and the most uninterrupted running parade.

Some of the largest parades are held in Savannah, Georgia, New London, Wisconsin, and the parade that is held in Sydney, Australia. This parade is said to be the largest in the whole Southern Hemisphere.

Heralded by many as one of the best parades to watch is the St. Louis St. Patrick´s Day parade. This year's parade which will be the 39th will be on March 15, 2008. Held in the downtown area, this year it will have over 120 entries. Marching bands, over 5,000 marchers, and balloons for the kids will be some of the features. Themed floats will be on hand.

Concession booths will be set up all along the parade route for the convenience of folks attending these parades. These parades are a great tribute to the Irish. For many years, thoug, St. Patrick´s Day was not celebrated except for religious purposes.

Many parades have different things the paricipants throw, including beads, masks, stuffed animals, and cabbage. There is entertainment, music, and games to keep the kids busy. The parades are great fun for all age groups.

Along the parade route you may find that many people have been waiting for hours. The parades draw a big crowd and everyone gets in on the fun. You might see people with their faces painted green, big shamrocks, and plenty of music and entertainment. The luck of the Irish is a phrase you will hear often. If you´ve never been to a St. Patrick´s Day parade you should try to attend one this year. To make it even more fun, why not dress up yourself in a St Patrick's Day costume ?