8 Fun "Paddy's Day" Traditions
john barry
You may know “Paddy’s Day” is a national holiday in both Ireland and Northern Island. But did you know that until the 1970s pubs in Ireland were closed on St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick’s day was a historically religious holiday brought to the U.S. by Irish Catholic immigrants. Paddy’s Day evolved into a secular tradition that celebrates Ireland and Irish traditions and food. Now, even in Dublin, St. Patrick’s day is celebrated in the pubs, and on the streets with a huge parade and festivities lasting multiple days.
Here are 8 fun Paddy’s Day traditions in a few U.S. cities.
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8. Seattle lights the space needle green.
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7. Boston has a huge parade in “Southie” and a 5K to run off all that beer.
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6. Philadelphia has its own St. Patrick's Day Observance Association which hosts its historical annual parade and even a St. Patrick’s Day golf tournament.
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5. Chicago is famous for dyeing the river bright green and throwing big parties in Grant Park and at the Irish American Heritage Center on the north side of the City.
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4. Green horses are featured in Lawrence, Kansas’ St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
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3. Portland, Maine kicks off its St. Patrick's Day celebrations with a plunge into the ice cold waters to raise funds for the Portland Firefighters Children's Burns Foundation.
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2. New London, Wisconsin’s Shamrock Club changes the “New London” highway signs to read “New Dublin”
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The Dancing Grannies perform at the Milwaukee Irish Parade. They are such an inspiration, especially in the aftermath of the tragic events this summer in Waukesha.
These days most people celebrate Paddy’s Day with beer, wearing green, and corned beef and cabbage. Even though we LOVE Irish bacon and can easily find it here in America (more easily than most people, for obvious reasons), we eat corned beef on Paddy’s Day. We also made St. Patrick’s Day sugar cookies. And ordered all the St. Patrick’s day doughnuts from Ms. Molly’s last Saturday (I should have taken pictures but they were gone instantly).
Happy Paddy’s Day!!!
This is my oldest daughter “drinking” her cookie - which is a green beer.