- Parades started in New York City, Savannah and elsewhere with large crowds watching in the streets
- Others started early for the annual party’s second tradition, crowding into bars from the early hours of the morning
- Irish tradition observed on March 17, unless, as this year, it falls on a Sunday – which is kept for church
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Millions of Americans took to the streets and bars around the country to celebrate the start of the St Patrick’s Day weekend, even turning an entire river green.
The annual celebration of Ireland’s patron saint is traditionally held on March 17, but as it fell on a Sunday this year, the festivities started early to keep that day for services.
New York City held its St Patrick’s Day parade for the 263rd year with 150,000 people marching 35 blocks up Fifth Avenue and two million watching from the street or on television.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined the crowds to watch the parade, which started at 11 a.m. on 44th Street and took four hours to reach its end on 79th Street.
Millions of Americans took to the streets and bars around the country to celebrate the start of the St Patrick’s Day weekend
New York City held its St Patrick’s Day parade for the 263rd year with 150,000 people marching 35 blocks up Fifth Avenue and two million watching from the street or on television
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul march in the St Patrick’s Day parade
New York Mayor Eric Adams attends the St Patrick’s Day Parade up 5th Ave, waving an Irish flag from the sidelines
A man plays the bagpipes during the 263rd annual St Patrick’s Day parade
A New York police officer waves to the crowd during the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York
Many in the crowd wore green and waved Irish flags as they watched marching bands and other groups pass by, led by Grand Marshal Margaret Timoney (pictured), CEO of Heineken USA and Irish native
Many in the crowd wore green and waved Irish flags as they watched marching bands and other groups pass by, led by Grand Marshal Margaret Timoney, CEO of Heineken USA and Irish native.
Others were already in one of NYC’s hundreds of Irish pubs for the second traditional part of the celebration, and millions more will join them later in the day and on Sunday.
The parade has been held since 1762 – 14 years before the United States gained its independence – and the first reference to the holiday being celebrated in the city was in 1756.
Meanwhile in Savannah, Georgia, another very old parade took place, claiming to be in its 200th year, with 300 entries marching through the city’s Old Town.
The party started at 7 for some, with locals sharing their first beer opening earlier than almost any other day of the year.
Others were already in one of NYC’s hundreds of Irish pubs for the second traditional part of the celebration, and millions more will join them later in the day and Sunday
People drink at The Perfect Pint bar in New York City early on St Patrick’s Day
Bar guests celebrate under St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City
A man wears a t-shirt featuring Donald Trump’s face as he takes part in the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Chicago also went big, dumping massive amounts of green dye into the Chicago River to turn the water green as thousands flocked on either side to see the vibrant color.
St Patrick’s Day was originally a Catholic feast day, but evolved over the centuries into a secular celebration of Irish culture – and drinking in particular.
Millions of Americans are descended from Irish immigrants who arrived in the early days of the country’s founding, fleeing difficult economic conditions at home.
About a third of all immigrants in 1820 to 1860 were Irish, and about 4.5 million arrived between 1841 and World War II. Boston’s basketball team is even named the Celtics in their honor.