It is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, according to the organizers of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Bagpipes and drums provided the music. Parade watchers provided the cheers and the costumes. Green hats and beads adorned parade watchers young and old who also waved Irish flags.
“It’s awesome. It’s so many people, like different people from all the states, and it’s great, really,” said Jessica from Germany.
Fellow parade watcher Adele said, “You get to be with other people from all over the world and get to see the people in the parade and so many different things in the parade. Yes, it’s always so much fun.”
Nick from England said, “In Birmingham, they have a parade, but it’s just like a walk in the park. It’s nothing like this. This is just special.”
Organizers said about 150,000 people participated in the annual parade and march up Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and about 2 million people turned out to watch.
New York City’s Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan greeted everyone along the parade route.
“It’s fun. I don’t have to go to school,” said Savannah as she watched the parade with her family.
The first New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1762.
The parade honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York.
(Reuters)
