| This contest is fueled by the following news: |
| | Spectators at San Francisco's 152 annual St. Patrick's Day Parade were greeted by picture perfect skies, music and candy. The largest crowd in years came to the event. Green hats, clothing and even hair was in abundance along the parade route on legendary Market Street. The parade itself lasted three hours and included floats, dancers, Irish bands -- and plenty of candy thrown to the spectators.
Saint Patrick is one of the most honored Saints in the world. Western church celebrates 17th March, and some orthodox churches celebrate on 30th March as per new calendar (17th March as per old calendar).
There are pagan reasons also for Day of Saint Patrick. Thus, one of its indispensable heroes are leprecons - fairy shoe men having gold hidden in pot. If lucky searcher finds leprecon, then this creature should explain the person, where treasure is kept. However, if you suddenly found the shoe man, then remember, that fully you should not believe him – these people may be evil and prankster, and easily may cheat trusty searcher of treasure.
There is a saying that leprechauns entered to celebrate the Day of Saint Patrick recently. Companies selling the greeting cards were requiring a person on this day that can come in pictures. Harsh but kind preacher Saint Patrick was not suitable for this role. Leprechauns in pictures as a rule were wearing sharp end cap and leather apron.
Fortune on the day of Saint Patrick can come in other way – only you have to find four leaf shamrock. Such leaf of trefoil brings success always, but on the Day of Saint Patrick such fortune becomes double. But it is not clear, in case of people of northern countries, where this festival comes during cold start of spring, when trefoil on meadow and even its trace is absent.
Traditionally on the day of Saint Patrick parades are organized. People come to streets in extravagant suits and also organized the brass bands, which cannot exist without noticeable bagpipe. Folk talk says that this tradition was born in Ireland. But most probably this is not like that.
In any case, New York and Boston contest the palm of superiority. New York people say that first parade was organized in 1762 in their city itself. That time, Irish people were under the leadership of English men, and quite possible that the people of unruly north American colonies expressed their solidarity with them in such manner.
But since then in New York one of the most splendid festivals is celebrated on this day. This festival reached Boston – Ireland city of USA only in 1802. Though, some people say, that first time Day of Saint Patrick was organized in USA by Ireland Association of Boston charity in the year of 1737.
At present, hundreds of millions of people in the world celebrate the festival parade of Day of Saint Patrick. On this day entire world – from Dublin to Sydney and from New York to Moscow with St. Petersburg – becomes Irish.
Irish people and their friends recollect the music and dances, spectacles and happy triumph. But mainly – parades with procession of brass band, extravagant dresses, folk works and laughing faces.
On the day of Saint Patrick, every American becomes honored Irish, everything becomes green, even that which cannot become greenish in principle. Green beer is served in bars, green bagels are sold in shops and in Chicago water in a river is painted with green color.
In Spain, this festival is celebrated imperceptibly except in cities Lorki and Mursii – because in 1452 on 17th March on the day of Saint Patrick, Christian knights from Lorki and Mursii defeated the Mauritanian knights from Muslim Granada in war at Alporchon. As lot of historians say, last stage of win back of Christian lands from Muslims started in this period, which was ended in 1492 by surrendering the Granada.
Spain King Castilian Huan gave Lorka city the title of Noble city and self emblem. And as symbol of victory on day of Saint Patrick, Pope Clement VII blessed the building in Lorka as Church of Saint Patrick, which even now is one of the main points of interest of city.
There is a opinion that on the day of Saint Patrick, it is necessary to drink at least one glass of alcohol in any Irish bar: on this day all bars become Irish and all musicians – Irish. Competitions can be organized (without any abuse) for drinking of alcohol in the name of Saint Patrick "emerald country". There is a "Patrick charc" – unit of measurement of whiskey, which was drunk on the day of Saint Patrick. Tradition says, that before drinking the glass of whiskey, it is necessary to put trefoil leaf. From that time, people say 'drowning the shamrock'.
In Ireland, on the day of Saint Patrick, parade is organized in more than 30 cities including main parades in Cork, Galvie, Limerick and obviously in Dublin with its grand festivals.
It is funny, that in Ireland this festival was treated as exclusively religious for a long period, and up to 70’s of last century Irish rules ordered all pubs to close on 17th march!
Now on streets of Dublin, festival processions take place, live music is performed in pubs. People of the city wear rust color wigs and green color caps, which are sold in shops, carry with them pots with shamrock (one of the symbols of Ireland – four leafed clover) and national flags. Evenings fireworks are organized. Festival is always celebrated with impetuous fun.
Parades in the honor of Saint Patrick are stretched and scattered to Irish people, who live in entire world.
|
|
| | 10 Contest Pictures Page 1 - View All
|
|
