Greetings!
If you’re a big fan of St. Patrick’s Day like I am, you will wake up on the 17th, daydreaming of what’s to come. You can smell delicious, corned beef, cabbage, and the faint richness of Guinness floating in the air. You can almost taste it. Everywhere you look, you’re seeing green. Shamrocks on clothing, grand banners, even the milk! Everyone seems to be in a giddy mood, there’s an electricity in the air, you feel it. You’re looking forward to the parade tonight where you’ll watch and listen as the space fills up with laughter and smiles.
I know I'm not the only one dreaming of the festivities. Countless people honor St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, this holiday gets observed on an international level – over 200 countries take part in the celebration! Can you believe it? I love learning how countries show their pride for the Irish holiday and want to share a few with you.
Chicago, Illinois –Every year since 1962, Chicago dyes the river a beautiful bright green before the St. Patrick’s Day parade. It’s quite the spectacle, everyone comes out to watch the magic of the river changing colors. The recipe for the magic dye is a well-guarded secret; perhaps leprechaun trickery is involved?
Sydney, Australia – Australia currently holds the title for the largest St. Patty’s celebration in the southern hemisphere. Not only is the Sydney Opera House lit up with green lights, the town gets a full makeover! The entire area is transformed into an Irish village with food, music, and even a children’s parade. They’ve earned those bragging rights.
Montserrat – Outside of Ireland, this small island is the only country where March 17th is a national public holiday. There, the festival spans over a 10-day period! It both commemorates the slave freedom fighters’ rebellion of 1768 and acknowledges the Irish ancestry of many of its inhabitants. It’s a unique celebration blending two heritages with traditional masquerade costumes, steel drums, goat stew, and a freedom run.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The massive 98-foot Christ the Redeemer Statue gets a glowing transformation for the holiday. The emerald lights illuminate the statue in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. At night, the local Irish pubs host special events that include live music, trivia, and fun giveaways.
As you can see, St. Patrick’s Day is a worldwide phenomenon! Hopefully this letter was able to give you a little glimpse of how the event is observed around the globe. Now that I’ve gotten you into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, you can feel confident celebrating the holiday however you wish. Maybe you can even start up some new traditions of your own. Whatever you decide, may the luck o’ the Irish ever be on your side!
Sincerely yours,
David M. Gallagher
Wealth Manager
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