How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, we want to share some suggestions with our students to learn more about Irish culture and Irish music so that everyone can celebrate this Sunday, March 17th!

St. Patrick’s Day is both an Irish and Irish-American holiday that commemorates the death of St. Patrick - the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patricks Day has a huge place in New York history. The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is not only the world’s largest St. Paddy's Day parade, but it is also the longest-running parade in our city’s history. While an unofficial march was held in 1762, the parade’s official start date is March 17th, 1766 - several years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence!

Originally composed of Irish military members in the British Army, the first NYC parade allowed participants to embrace Irish culture during a time in which even wearing green was banned in Ireland. As the official website states, “participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were meaningful to the Irish immigrants of that time.” This tradition continues on strong today, drawing crowds of up to two million and up to 150,000 participants annually. (Check it out this year if you can!)

St. Patrick's Day celebrations are all about good food, good company and good music. We have complied here a brief list of some traditional Irish food and music to share with family & friends during this upcoming holiday:

MUSIC

Center Stage has their very own St. Patrick’s Day playlist! Compiling some classic Irish artists, folk music, and Celtic punk music, this playlist is a great jumping off point for those interested in listening to more Irish music.

Spotlight: Hozier’s latest album, “Unreal Unearth” (2023), features Gaelic and Irish-isms set to lyrical storytelling. As he explains to The Grammy Awards, “‘Butchered Tongue’ explores the sort of experience of traveling around the world with the Irish view of history, or with a view of history and global politics that's informed by the Irish experience or my Irish experience, and my understanding of Irish history.”

Listen to one of Center Stage’s house bands, Static, perform “Zombie” by The Cranberries! The Irish band’s song speaks to The Troubles and calls for peace in the 1990s.

For those interested in some more traditional and unique Irish music, check out these NTS Radio playlists: Death Is Not The End & Irish Traditional & Folk Special