While St. Patrick's Day may have Irish roots, the holiday is celebrated all around the world. Each year on March 17, people dress up in green and drink beer. However, different cities each have their own ways of celebrating too! Check out these 7 Crazy St. Patrick's Day Traditions from
News.Discovery.com:
1. Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade
The shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Named the shortest street in the world by "Ripley's Believe It or Not," Bridge Street is just 98 feet long. Each year it is used for celebrations with Irish Elvis impersonators, a middle-age troupe called Lards of the Dance and other attractions.
2. "New Dublin" Wisconsin Celebration
Each year, New London, Wisconsin is transformed into New Dublin. Members of the Shamrock Club there dress up as leprechauns and change the highway signs to read "New Dublin." The town's regular population is 7,000. However, on St. Patrick's Day, the town draws around 300,000 people. Festivities include bagpipe players, a Finnegan's Wake that involves a green hearse and Celtic bands playing in Irish Fest.
3. Biggest Shamrock in the World
The Irish capital of Nebraska, O'Neill, has a painted four-leaf clover in the middle of the road. The town is named after John O'Neill, an Irishman who served in the Civil War. The St. Patrick's Day celebration there includes demonstrations by a hypnotist and a reading of Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham." Celebrating their Irish heritage happens more than once a year, therefore the town wears green on the 17th of every month!
4. The Green River
For more than 40 years now, the Chicago River has been dyed green on St. Patrick's Day. The river is dyed with an eco-friendly powdered vegetable dye. The green color can take several days to dissipate.
5. St. Patrick's Day in the Caribbean
In Montserrat, St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday. The Caribbean island has both rich Irish and African heritage. March 17th also marks the anniversary of a slave uprising in 1768. The annual festivities include masked street dancers, a tradition that blends African and European cultural elements.
6. Australian Reenactment
Every year for St. Paddy, the city of Brisbane Australia hosts a big bash. The Queensland Irish Association parade celebrates Australia's immigrant history, so Aussies gather dressed up as people sent to build a nation. The portray widows and orphans, miners, teachers and everyone in between.
7. The Welsh St. Patrick
A history club in Banwen, Wales insists that St. Patrick was in fact Welsh. These historians say that at age 16, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. On March 17, the organization stages a parade that leads to a stone commemorating where the patron saint of Ireland was allegedly born.
Summerset Boat Lifts wishes you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day! With spring just around the corner, don't forget to schedule a spring maintenance checkup before you start operating your
Lake of the Ozarks boat lift for the season. Give us a call at 573-873-5073 today!
1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO 65065
Email:info@summersetboatlifts.com
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