Over the last 200 years, the Irish have migrated to all corners of the earth. Some left their native shores by choice, but most migrated to find work. They settled in towns and cities on five continents, with no place too remote, too wet, too dry, too hot, or too cold. That’s why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 all over the world, just as the festivities wind down in one city, they start in the next. For 24 hours as the earth rotates and portions are illuminated by the sun, one celebration begins and another comes to an end at sunset.

Snippets of these parades and festivities are broadcast on Irish television on March 18 because even as bedtime arrives in Ireland on March 17, the more ‘Irish’ party is still in full swing elsewhere.

Irish traditions around the world

No Irish person is as in touch with their ethnicity as the emigrant or those who are descended from Irish emigrants, regardless of where they live in the world. They love to celebrate their origins enthusiastically and some do so quietly in remote areas like Newfoundland, where many of the citizens, although separated by several generations from their homeland, still retain the customs and accents of their ancestors’ origins.

In other areas, such as New York City, Irish immigrants have integrated into their communities for generations, operating businesses, entering politics, going into the medical professions, and serving in the military just like any other citizen. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York is one of the largest in the world, now used to make national and international social and political statements in both subtle and overt ways.

Other parades occur in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, London, Glasgow, and to a lesser degree in most European capitals. There are Irish celebrations even in parts of India, China and Japan.

The best place to celebrate the Irish National Holiday

The best place to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day and take part in its festivities is, of course, Ireland. The largest parade usually takes place in Dublin and visitors from around the world flock to the city in mid-March to watch the parade’s street theatre, drink a pint of Guinness and settle into a cozy Irish pub to listen to traditional music. session. Irish people living at home often attend a local parade and there are parades in the main town/city of each county in Ireland.

It is always a pleasure to attend the local parades. Being locals we know many of the participants, we enjoy their music, their satirical performances and we support our neighbors and friends who are promoting their new product or service. We enjoy judging from the pavement, our children, although they do not always understand the messages that are transmitted, enjoy the show, the color and the sound.