A Happy St. Patrick’s Day As We Celebrate The Green And, Oh Yes, The Arrival Of Spring

By Doug Draper

I’m almost ashamed to admit that I don’t know as much about my family tree as I would like to so I can’t be completely sure there isn’t a wee bit of Irish blood in me along with a touch of Scottish, English and some of the other stuff.

Some of the early arrivals for last year's St. Patrick's Day parade in Buffalo, New York. Photo by Doug Draper

Then again, on St. Patrick’s Day, it is almost a mute point. Just dig into your closet for a green sweater or shirt, pin on an “Irish for a Day’ button that any of us who care to can pin on an “Irish For A Day” and join the crowd at bars for a pint or more of green beer. And if you are working this St. Patrick’s Day, as many of us are this Thursday, March 17, and can’t make it to the party, don’t despair.
This coming Sunday, March 20, you can follow all of the Leprechauns and Unicorns to the streets of Buffalo, New York – to a good many people of Irish descent – for one of the largest and most ruckus St. Patrick’s Day parades on the continent.

The parade begins at 2 p.m. but the crowds start lining up along Delaware Avenue early from the uptown area where the marchers and floats move north up through the Allentown area and beyond. This is always one of the first great outdoor events of the year and a fun way to kick off the spring season.

That’s right, March 20 is also the first day of spring! After the winter we have had, that is reason enough for celebration.

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