Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish
people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Celebrations are generally
themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians
celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish
food, imbibing Irish drink, and attending parades. The St. Patrick's Day parade
in Dublin, Ireland is part of a five day festival, with over 500,000 people
attending the 2006 parade. The largest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in New
York City and it is watched by 2 million spectators. The St. Patrick's day
parade was first held in New York City on 17 March 1766 when Irish soldiers
marched through the city. Ireland's cities all hold their own parades and
festivals. These cities include Cork, Belfast, Galway, Derry, Limerick and
Waterford. Parades also take place in other Irish towns and villages. Other
large parades include those in Cleveland, Manchester, Birmingham, London,
Coatbridge, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Kansas City, Savannah, Pittsburgh,
Denver, Sacramento, Scranton and Toronto. Large parades also take place in other
places throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia.
As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a
Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland
(among other churches in the Anglican Communion) and some other denominations.
The day always falls in the season of Lent. In church calendars (though rarely
in secular ones) Saint Patrick's Day is moved to the following Monday when it
falls on a Sunday. It is traditional for those observing a lenten fast to break
it for the duration of Saint Patrick's Day whenever March 17 falls on a
Friday.[1]
In many parts of North America, Britain, and Australia, expatriate Irish, those
of Irish descent, and ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections
but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's
Day, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages (lager dyed green, Irish beer and
stout, such as Murphys, Smithwicks, Harp or Guinness, or Irish whiskey, Irish
Cider, Irish Coffee or Baileys Irish Cream) and by wearing at least one article
of green-colored clothing.
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