What You Should Know About New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade
From revolutionary roots to Fifth Avenue festivities, why did green became the universal symbol of Irish pride? Plus, some photos of last year's parade
Something most folks don’t realize is that New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade debuted on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. We’ve been celebrating St. Pat even longer than we’ve been Americans.
That 1762 parade is attributed to homesick Irish expatriates and military members serving with the British Army. At the time in Ireland, wearing green was a sign of rebellion, a symbol of loyalty to the Society of United Irishmen, an underground nationalist group emulating the American and French revolutions to overthrow English rule.
In New York, wistful Irish immigrants reveled in the freedom to speak their language (1737 legislation had banned the use of Irish in Irish courts), sing traditional songs and wear all the damn green they desired.
Fast forward to today, and the parade is still a lively affair. Around 150,000 participants march up 5th Avenue past the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral where His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York watches on. He’s not the only one, more than two million spectators admire the procession from the sidelines.
The reason is simple: The United States has the most people of Irish descent (of any country in the world). In fact, 31.5 million U.S. residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2021 — that’s 9.5% of the population. Bringing it closer to home, 10.7% of New Yorkers declare Irish ancestry.
While the parade was originally a religious holiday honoring St. Patrick (who introduced Christianity to Ireland), the day has evolved into a celebration of Irish pride. The first parade occurred in New York City but has since spread globally. Chicago, for instance, is known for dyeing its river bright green to mark the occasion.
This year’s parade takes place on a dreary Monday, giving you a chance to beat the crowds if you can manage the rain. The parade is a blast rain or shine—those bagpipes have a way of striking a chord.
Important Parade Details:
Start Time: 11am
Location: the parade starts at 44th Street and 5th Avenue
Ending Point: 79th Street and 5th Avenue
Why is green associated with Irish pride?
Bright green and shamrocks as far as the eye can see—what gives? While it’s easy to assume the country’s striking landscape deserves credit, the association is actually political.
During the Great Irish Rebellion of 1641, military leader Owen Roe O’Neill flew a green flag featuring an Irish harp. After the rebellion was suppressed, green as a nationalist symbol persisted, despite English attempts to suppress it.
Decades later, in the 1790s, inspired by the American and French revolutions, the Society of United Irishmen promoted republican ideals in Ireland, prominently adopting the color green. Their distinctive uniform included green coats, striped trousers, and felt hats featuring green ribbons, symbolizing their political affiliation.
The tradition lives on to this day.
Interesting Tidbits from History
In 2002, New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade honored the victims of 9/11. Reflecting on the inconceivable loss, the entire parade paused for two minutes as marchers faced south towards the Twin Towers. An unprecedented silence befell Fifth Avenue while Edward Cardinal Egan said a prayer for the victims of the tragedy.
It was the largest parade to date, drawing 300,000 participants and three million spectators, and marked the first time an Irish President, Mary McAleese, observed the parade.
Some Housekeeping
Last week you may have noticed a case of déjà vu: two variations of the same paragraph back to back. Thanks to those who pointed it out! It was embarrassing!
Proof that this newsletter is run by a real (sleep-deprived) mom. C spiked a fever mid-week, so sleep the last few days has been marked by three hour stretches of rest— send help! And an editor.
Cheers!
Antonina
What a wonderful article! You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy New York City on St. Patrick’s Day. 👍🏻
"We’ve been celebrating St. Pat even longer than we’ve been Americans".
You have always been Americans. America spans from Tierra del Fuego in Argentina to Alaska. The United States is in North America, Panama, for example, is in Central America, and Brazil, Argentina, etc., are in South America.
You should stop saying that the United States is America because the USA is just a part of America, and it is a serious mistake not to understand that America is much bigger than the USA.
Please don’t take this opinion the wrong way—I love your culture, and most of all, the city of New York. I love staying in Brooklyn, having a coffee at Bryant Park, taking the Staten Island Ferry, and my favorite building in the world is the Empire State.
I know that in a past life, I lived in Brooklyn and had a café where they played jazz and blues because every time I’ve been there, I’ve felt right at home.
I love your blog because every article reminds me of my stays there