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.
On Sunday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) we get to experience all of that and more.
The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t occur in Ireland, but rather in the United States. On March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida, a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held under the direction of the colony’s Irish vicar, Ricardo Artur, according to the colonial records. This fact often surprises many, as it predates the now famous New York City parade, which began in 1762.
The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is renowned for being one of the oldest and largest parades. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762, to honor the Irish patron saint. This parade has grown to include between 150,000 to 250,000 participants each year and draws crowds of two million spectators. What makes this parade particularly unique is its strict adherence to tradition – it does not allow floats, automobiles, or other commercial aspects, focusing instead on marching bands and bagpipers in traditional garb.
Spring is almost here. With everything happening around the world and here at home, we all need something that will bring us together and something we all can share… being Irish just might be that something.
In just sixteen days, we get that chance as our St. Paddy’s Day Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. This is one day when everyone is a little bit Irish and we will transform Greenwich Avenue into a sea of green.
It is fun to see how the traditions continue from year to year. 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 years ago. We’re eager to see if First Selectman Fred Camillo’s dogs will be suitably attired for the event.
There’s something uniquely joyful about Greenwich parades. 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 other parades we love, 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.
Shortly after, on March 20, is the International Day of Happiness, an annual global event organized by the United Nations. It serves to remind us that being happy is human too and worth celebrating – and if you are not happy on Sunday, celebrating might change that.
This year, make your plans early. Plan to gather your friends. Buy that temporary green hair dye now. Let’s get as many people as possible to come out for the parade. Let’s plan to take a couple of hours and come together as a community and just have fun. After all, by the 17th we should be ready to do that and we are looking forward that!
