St. Patricks Day

Students of Fordham University typically celebrate St. Patrick’s Day either on the beaches of Mexico or enjoying time at home with their families, because the holiday almost always falls during our spring break. Many Fordham come from areas that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in unique, affordable and fun ways; perhaps, some of our own peers will attend these events this year.

The famous New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be in full swing this year led by Grand Marshall and New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. The parade, which has occurred almost every year since 1766, boasts hundreds of Irish dancers, bands, singers and other forms of entertainment from 44th to 86th street along Fifth Avenue. Vendors sell of all kinds of Irish food, including, of course, those delicious dessert, Irish potatoes. Besides watching the parade, attendees can also dine at one of the dozens of Irish pubs around the city, which host numerous Irish dancers and singers on March 17. One could also visit some unique Irish shops or the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral to honor the saint. In other areas of New York, such as Albany, people can attend the annual smaller St. Patrick’s Day parade and enjoy Irish treats and drinks.

Outside of New York, almost every major city hosts some form of a parade or celebration. Philadelphians and their surrounding neighbors can view the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is the second oldest in the country after New York’s parade.

“My friends and I love celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Philadelphia,” Ellen George, FCRH ’12, said. “There is so much to do, and the parade is always filled with great entertainment. I highly recommend it.”

Also, on St. Patrick’s Day several pubs in the Philadelphia area, such as Fado Irish Pub, serve free pancakes in the morning to anyone who arrives before 11 a.m. Fado Irish Pub has special prices on unique Irish dishes, such as corned beef and cabbage and offers samplings of special Irish beers throughout the day to those 21 years and older. Similar deals and specialties can be found in many other Irish pubs throughout the Philadelphia area.

Tommy Silk, FCRH ’12, says that celebrations in his hometown, near Fairfield, Conn., are always exciting.

“We either go to the Fairfield Gaelic American Club or sometimes our church will host an Irish dinner,” he said.

Parades similar to those in New York and Philadelphia are held in San Antonio and Houston, and other special celebrations can be found in smaller southern cities as well. In Shamrock, Texas, citizens can attend the Shamrock St. Patty’s Day Festival, a three-day celebration with events such as a beauty pageant and Irish-themed eating contests. Naples, Fla., although a somewhat small southern town, boasts a large and highly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 13.

In the western states, St. Patrick’s Day is just as popular as in other parts of the country. For example, on Saturday, March 13, the Sons of Erin near Reno, Nev., host the parade portion of their weekend-long St. Patrick’s Day carnival and celebration. In California, dozens of parades take place during that same weekend as well as on St. Patrick’s Day itself. Dublin, Calif., celebrates its Irish namesake with a parade, and the major metropolitan California cities also host events. San Diego is holding its 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Fest this year, and Los Angeles and San Francisco also have parades.

Even though most students at Fordham will not be on campus and many will not near New York City for St. Patrick’s Day, that does not mean that they cannot celebrate the Irish holiday. Throughout the country, parades, festivals, concerts and many of the events will occur in almost every major city. For a little bit of culture and something different to do over spring break, try one of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in your hometown.