NYC St. Patricks Day Parade
In the first parade on March 17, 1762 home-sick Irish American immigrants and military members serving for the British wanted to celebrate their heritage. At this first parade, the marchers spoke their own language, played their cultural music, wore green, and celebrated the fact that they were Irish. The parade was first organized by military units. Today the Parade is run by St.Patrick’s Day Parade Inc. The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is an important tradition and celebration of the city. Approximately 200,000 people march in it and is attended by many. Those of Irish decent or even those not join the celebration to come together and celebrate the Irish identity and the forming of this independent country.
The Easter Rising is an important sentiment of the Parade. Although the parade was celebrated long before the Rising, Americans made this revolutionary cause a part of the celebration in the early 1900s. Today, the Parade organization releases a Parade Journal each year. The 2016 edition included letters commemorating the Easter Rising and its leaders. The journal also includes the Proclamation of the Irish Republic to show the parades organization’s recognition of the rebellion and the republic that formed as a result.
participants
The parade has marchers from many aspects such as state and government officials and departments such as Mayor of NYC, Police Department, Veteran Corps of Artillery Color Guard, Irish-American Legislatures Society of New York State, U.S. Navy, Xavier High School R.O.T.C, Air Force District Washington, and FDNY Color Guard. Colleges also get involved such as Fordham University Gaelic Society, Marist College Gaelic Society, Manhattan College Gaelic Society, and Iona College Gaelic Society. Irish cultural clubs also march like Rockland County AOH Bagpipe Band NY and the Staten Island Pipers Association. Boy Scouts of America NYC, American Red Cross, Saint Vincent’s hospital School of nursing alumni NY. High School Bands take part in the parade like Xavier High School “Blue Knights” Cadet Band, Saint Joseph by the Sea Staten Island, Westlake High School Dance Company, Port Richmond High School Band. These are just some of the many organizations that take part in this celebration. They come from different areas, but come together to celebrate Ireland.
Grand Marshal
Each year, a Grand Marshal is chosen to lead the parade. The chosen Grand Marshal is often a respectable figure. This past years 2016 Grand Marshal was Senator George J. Mitchell. It can be clear why he was chosen regarding his involvement in negotiating peace in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. He helped the Irish nation, reflecting the parades celebration of building a strong independent Ireland.
A CAtholic identity
The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is usually held on March 17th. However, if the 17th falls on a Sunday, then the Parade is held on Saturday March 16th in order to observe the Sunday Sabbath. The parade recognizes this Catholic holy day reflecting this as part of the Irish identity. The parade is also supported by the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
date
Every year on March 17th
SPONSORSHIP and donations
This parade is possible because of those who donate, sponsor, or advertise here. Many support the parade as seen through these donations made.
Route: The Parade begins on 5th Avenue at 44th Street. It ends on 5th Avenue uptown at 79th Street. from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
River dying
In 1961 Stephen Bailey encountered a plumber with white overalls stained a perfect shade of “Irish green”. When Bailey asked how the overalls got this way he learned that the dye used to detect leaks in the river turned that color green, the perfect Irish green. Many other cities have tried to perfect this color but have not been able to do so.
“From the Chicago River to the Illinois River, then to the Mississippi, up the Gulf Stream and across the Atlantic you can see the beautiful green enter the Irish Sea, clearly marking the way from Chicago to Ireland.”
Strangely, the dye is orange and looks orange when on the surface of water. After a few moments in the water, it starts to turn green. The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers turn the Chicago River green every year for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade for this 40 year tradition. The color green of the river comes to resemble the color of the greens of Ireland. This color becomes significant as Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. The formula for the dye is secret but has been tested by chemists as safe for the environment.
Can be viewed from the East side of Michigan Avenue, the West side of Columbus Drive, or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive
Queen contest
The Queen of the parade is chosen to represent the Chicago Irish community. She is expected to represent the parade committee at civic, neighborhood, parish, and Irish events.
To enter participants must be “Any girl of Irish ancestry, never married, 18-28 years old, is eligible to enter the contest. Entrants should send a snapshot with name, age, address, phone number and brief biography and explanation on why you would like to be the “2017 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen”. ” This seems reminiscent of the fair maiden that seems so prevalent in Irish culture, a symbol of purity and “true” Irish values.
Corned beef and cabbage dinner
The Corned beef and Cabbage Dinner is a fundraiser for the saint Patrick’s day parade. It’s charge is $85 per person for a night out at dinner and an opportunity to support this cultural tradition.
Route
The parade starts on Balbo and Columbus. The parade will proceed up Columbus Drive
Controversy and Politics of the Parade
Many individuals and groups have been barred from marching in the NYC parade. Among these include the LGBT community, Senator Robert Kennedy for his political technique, Bernadette Delvin for her anti-Vietnam War stance. Also, women were not allowed to be the Grand Marshal until 1989 when Dorothy Cudhay was chosen.
Gays have not been able to participate in the Parade until recently. However, the parade claims that the ban was not on gays- it was on political banners.
Still there are opposing views to allowing gays walk in the parade which can be negatively connoted with this bar. For example, Catholicism is a great sentiment in the Saint Patricks Day Parade. This part of Irish identity is seen with Catholic school, groups, and figures who take part in and support the parade. However, the Catholic Church does not accept homosexuality. Statements from leading Catholic figures in the city can bring a poor connotation and interaction between the Church, the Parade, and the Gay community. Bill Donahue has has expressed his dissaprovel of gay relations. He released a statement on behalf of the Catholic League regarding their withdraw from the parade because of his disproval for gay groups being represented and not pro-life groups. Finally this year, 2016, LGBT groups were allowed to march in the parade after the decades long ban. The city’s approval was seen with Mayor de Blasio marching with the Lavender and Green Alliance.
If the parade is a celebration of Irish independence and generally being Irish, what kind of message does this exclusion give about being Irish? Is the Irishman only a certain kind of person? Is it right for the parade to not allow certain groups to represent themselves because it is seen as political, or should any group of people be allowed to celebrate their heritage together to proclaim themselves as Irish? These are questions still up for interpretation.