Who doesn’t love a parade? We certainly love a good parade with bag pipes, honor guard, all of our fire apparatus shiny and bright, and marching bands filling the air with a thumping drumbeat, and horns playing traditional music. Here in Greenwich, we know how to do a parade well. We transform Greenwich Avenue into an outdoor festival with friends and neighbors taking a few hours off to enjoy one another’s company.
This weekend we get to experience all of that and more.
Of course, New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the granddaddy of all parades. In fact, the first parade was on March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the city was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York.
This Sunday we get that chance as our St. Paddy’s Day Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. This is one day when everyone claims to be a little bit Irish. All of the restaurants on Greenwich Avenue feel a little bit Irish, especially the ones toward the bottom of the avenue. And McDuff’s, while Scottish to its core, opens its doors wide to celebrate the patron saint of its neighboring island. Or perhaps they just like a good party. We will transform Greenwich Avenue into a sea of green.
It is fun to see how the traditions continue from year to year, minus the past two years. Toward the bottom of the Avenue, on the right-hand side, there should be a pick-up truck with beach chairs and grill all set to feast and watch the parade. Politicians will wear sweaters they should have considered donating to Neighbor-to-Neighbor years ago. We are waiting to see if First Selectman Fred Camillo’s dogs will be “dressed” for the occasion.
Parades in Greenwich are special. They are probably special everywhere, but we feel there is something about parades in our town that make them unlike any other. Perhaps it is because when you are at a parade you are happy. It awakens something in us from our youth. That time your father let you watch while sitting on his shoulders. There is something innocent about it. Like watching the Shriners perform in their go-carts. Inevitably there is always one that breaks down and needs to get towed. It happens every year and yet we still laugh, clap our hands, and cheer.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the others, bring our community together in a fun, celebratory way. We have consciously decided that we are going to take a few hours off and be with our friends and neighbors. If it’s a sunny, late winter day – even better. It is a harbinger of spring and lets us know that winter is coming to a close. There is something about walking up Greenwich Avenue before that parade begins to meet up with others at our traditional viewing spot that builds a sense of anticipation.
And FYI, Monday is also the International Day of Happiness, a global event organized by the United Nations. It serves to remind us that being happy is a human right and worth celebrating – and if you are not happy, celebrating might change that. However, we caution you to be careful. With the combination of the parade and happiness day we do not want Monday to be your own personal “hangover day.” Please be responsible.
This year, make your plans early. Gather your friends. Dye your hair green. Let’s get as many people as possible to watch the parade and be happy. Let’s take a couple of hours and come together as a community and just have fun. After all, everyone is a little bit Irish.
