The Streets Were Lined With Green

It appears that since St. Patrick has been disconnected from any European or Catholic connection, it is acceptable to attend and also get headline coverage in the media. Not unlike the film. Cabrini, where reference to God and faith are almost absent and rather hard to find.

As you might gather from my name, I am Irish-American. I am about to turn 70. Throughout my life, St. Patricks Day parades have involved people of all races and ethnicities. This is a good thing. And while I have heard fellow Irish-Americans refer to St. Patricks as the high holy day, the parades have been secular.

Why does everything that happens have to measured? Judged? Who has decided that everything and anything that has existed is somehow inappropriate, or worse? The parade was originally a celebration of Irish-Americans emigration, and good fortune, here, in the US, and abroad. It has become an annual celebration, observed by many, and open to anyone who wanted to see a good parade, and if the weather was right, a day to break from the winter doldrums. The drinking by some began to ruin the celebration, but in recent years, it has been tempered. But it is becoming tiring the constant judging. The differences between people, the tolerance, and understanding, seems to have been replaced by bitter judging, and then some type of public media shaming of those that try to follow their traditions. Agreed there is some terrible history, that society has slowly eliminated, but it seems any and all traditions, of all kinds of people, seem fodder for media to insinuate some type of connection to portions of blatant historical bias, and hatred. Thank You to all the Knights of St. Patrick, their supporters, and fans of the parade, for maintaining a sound tradition.

Great photos!! Thank you!!

St Patricks Day in America has always been less of a religious holiday and more about celebrating Irish American ancestry and to fight for recognition in the face of discrimination that Irish immigrants were subjected to during large waves of immigration to the US.
Over time, it has been more inclusive and welcoming of everybody which makes it my favorite parade event along with the Freddie Fixer Parade which was also about pride, community, and celebrating the Dixwell/Newhallville community roots.

Anybody who wants to complain about a parade should ask themselves why they want to dump all over such a joyful event that costs nothing to attend and enjoy.
If you dont like it, you can stay home, you dont have to attend.

Thank you to the parade organizers, donators, marchers, and viewers who all made this parade possible and lots of fun to celebrate the coming of Spring and the last days of winter soon to be behind us!