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A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH
by Mike McCormack
Welcome to the month of Saint Patrick,
a time of joyous celebration among the Irish around the world. And why do we
celebrate? Because we’re Irish. It’s been said that the Irish passion for their
heritage gets stronger, the further they are from the Emerald Isle, and that may
partially explain the popularity of this day, for whether or not they were poor
in material possessions, the Irish always managed to carry with them, their
unique culture, traditions, and religion. And Saint Patrick is part of all
three. As a result of the Diaspora of the Irish throughout the world, no one in
the entire litany of saints is better known, more loved, or greater celebrated
than our patron.
It should be no surprise then, that the tradition of parading in St Patrick’s
honor started thousands of miles from the Emerald Isle, among Irish soldiers
serving in the British army right here in America. St Patrick’s day had
previously been celebrated with a dinner, like the one recorded in 1737 hosted
by the Charitable Irish Societies of Boston, or in 1762 hosted by John Marshall
near St Peter’s Church in New York City. However, when local Irish regiments
were invited to attend, they marched in military manner to the banquet. The
first march we’ve found reference to was held in 1766, with fifes and drums and
all, and a tradition was born. Years later, when many Irish marched away under
Washington’s banner to help establish this new nation, civilians still paraded
in the cities on March 17. General Washington even observed the feast in the
field by making the password on March 17: St Patrick. As a result, it can be
said that honoring the memory of our patron saint became one of America’s first
traditions.
In the years that followed, this Irish American tradition was exported around
the world with the result that today, there are at least 250 annual parades in
honor of our patron saint across 44 states, in addition to countless parades in
Ireland, Canada, Australia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Buenos Aires, and every
country to which the children of Erin have been scattered. But it all formally
started in New York, right after the American Revolution when, in 1784, the
Friendly Sons of St Patrick were formed, and soon took over organizing the
parade in lower Manhattan. In 1790, a Brooklyn parade was organized, and another
- organized by a convention of Irish Societies - soon followed. By 1843, and for
some years thereafter, there were two major parades in Manhattan as well as the
one in Brooklyn with the parade organized by the Convention of Irish Societies
gradually emerging as the main one. In 1853, the Ancient Order of Hibernians
first marched, and thus began an association that led to their assuming
responsibility for that event. Today, a committee made up of AOH members still
plans, organizes, and manages the annual march which has become the largest
ethnic demonstration in the world.
In the early days, the route of the parade required a great deal of stamina to
complete. As the city grew, the parades got longer. The 1899 parade started at
Washington Square and marched to Brommans Union Park for the traditional
banquet. Brommans was located at 133 St and Willis Ave in the Bronx - a distance
of about six miles from the starting point. It was the only time the parade
entered that borough, although the Bronx was not the only borough to have been
visited by the Manhattan parade, for the Brooklyn Hibernians took the parade
over the Brooklyn Bridge to march in their streets several times. In 1909,
another borough entered the picture as the Queens AOH - 1,000 strong - were
given the honor of becoming the first to cross the recently completed, but as
yet unopened, Queensborough Bridge. That honor was accorded in recognition of
the Irish laborers who constructed the span. After parading through Queens, they
proudly marched over the new bridge to join the New York parade, led by a unit
of Silver Greys - AOH members over 70 years in age - in horse-drawn carriages.
The record for the longest parade however, was established in 1904 when the
annual march started at 26th street and Fifth Ave, marched to 126 St, turned
west to Seventh Ave, then north again to 155th St, and proceeded west again to
the Manhattan Casino at 155th St and Eighth Ave - a distance of 8 miles.
Today, there are parades in many local communities on dates surrounding March
17. As in the beginning, there is still a common link between them all. On the
one hand, that link is the common reverence for St Patrick which all true
Irishmen cherish. On the opposite extreme they are all subject to the terrible
Paddy-bashing of the media prompted by misbehaving
Amadans* in green
plastic derby's, drinking green beer! Each year on March 17th, there are those
who drag our heritage through the streets, and those who parade it.
St.
Patrick’s Day is not an excuse for a party, but a reason for pride - pride in an
Irish Christian heritage that is second to none.
Those who debase themselves on
that day are either not Irish or are Irish in name only, and their condition at
the end of the day is a direct reflection of their appreciation for, or
ignorance of, their own heritage. Further, those who respect that heritage don’t
call their patron saint by a nickname; the difference between Paddy’s Day and
St. Patrick’s Day is the difference between the office Christmas party and
Midnight Mass - the only thing they have in common is the date.
*Amadan - Village Idiot
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