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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | MARCH 2023 9 By Theresa Rossetti, Resident The tradition of holding parties on St. Patrick's Day in the United States came from Irish-born settlers. The Chicago River is died green every year on St. Paddy's Day and a huge parade takes place in New York City. Boston is also known for their celebrations on the day. However, there are other places that have the good sense to celebrate on or around March 17th. Jackson, MS has a day-long celebration raising money for Baton Children's Hospital, featuring a 5K race, pet parade, costume contest (celebrating characters from Tennessee Williams plays) and amusement rides. Dublin, OH hosts a pancake breakfast serving green syrup, a parade with giant balloons and floats led by the Grand Leprechaun. O'Neill, NE, the home of the world's largest shamrock, celebrates with a Green Eggs and Ham Literature Festival. Wilmington, NC, has a Guinness Festival and Parade with Irish Step dancers. All donations go to a NC nonprofit dedicated to feeding hungry children. Next comes New London, WI, settled by Irish immigrants in the late 1800s, where members of the Shamrock Club dress as leprechauns and change the road signs to New Dublin. Not to be outdone by New York City, Montauk, NY hosts the second largest parade in the state. Starting the day with soup donated by local restaurants, the proceeds go to the civic group Montauk Friends of Erin. This parade is held a few days after March 17th. There are world-wide celebrations as well. A group of Irish Catholics settled in the Caribbean Island of Montserrat in the 17th century. St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday there, celebrating with a calypso contest and a kite festival. In Sydney, AU, you will find family- fun events and a children's parade. The Sydney Opera House is lit green on the day. Montreal, CA has had a parade since 1824 hosted by a massive St. Patrick himself. How about Tokyo, with an "I Love Ireland Festival?" Buenos Aires, with its large Irish population, holds a parade. In Brussels, they dress a city center statue in a cable-knit sweater and have traditional Irish food, games, and crafts available for the kids. Munich has a parade and a street food festival. London has a parade as well and the London Eye is lit in green. As for Ireland, it is a national holiday in The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Originally a religious celebration, gradually Ireland has adopted the American attitude. Dublin holds a four-day festival, similar in tone to the celebrations that Americans know (but practically no Corned Beef! That's an American thing). Lounge Night with Kenny Rice Top O' The Morning To Ya!