Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “the Day of the Festival of Patrick”), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),[4] the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland,[3] and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.[5] Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, cèilidhs, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.[6] Christians also attend church services[5][7]and historically the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which encouraged and propagated the holiday’s tradition of alcohol consumption
New Orleans Celebrations-
St. Patrick’s Day (on March 17th, each year) is celebrated in New Orleans and its suburb in the form of….another parade! It’s the perfect season for another celebration … after all, it’s New Orleans, and we love to parade!
Our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parades are considered another opportunity for family and friends to get together and enjoy a day outdoors. It seems as if the entire city is on the street with picnic baskets, umbrellas, and their recreational vehicles…enjoying one of the biggest street parties of the year! Men and women in walking groups from various clubs in the city dress in costumes of green and give out flowers, beads, and kisses to lucky parade goers along the route.
New Orleans Parades
Sat, March 11 & Fri, March 17, 2017Parasol’s Block Party 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sat, March 11 & Fri, March 17, 2017Tracy’s Block Party 11 a.m. – ’til
Sat, March 11Irish Channel Parade – 1:30 p.m.
Sun, March 12St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Rd. – 12 Noon
Fri, March 17Molly’s at the Market Irish Parade – 6:00 p.m.
Fri, March 17Downtown Irish Club Parade – 6:00 p.m.
Sat, March 18Italian-American St.Joseph’s Parade – 6 p.m.
Sun, March 19Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade (Metairie) – 12 Noon
Sat, April 1Irish-Italian Islenos Parade at St.Bernard – 12 Noon
St. Patrick’s Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
Lisa s Everyday Life